Swamp Creature

So here I am, a month into life at Florida College... and only one outfit post thus far. Life has been really busy! Oh well. I'm not going to apologize too much. It could be worse.
My birthday was last Wednesday, and it was one of the sweetest birthdays I have experienced in the 19 years of my life! And the word "sweet" is to be taken literally. I was treated so wonderfully by all of my friends, old and new, as well as my family. One of my shelves is still full of candy and cards/notes of kind words. I cannot express my appreciation.
Branching off from the previous topic, lately I have been extremely appreciative of the simple things in life. With the stresses and seriousness of studying/college life, tiny beams of joy will penetrate the dullness and really cause me to smile: the sunny walk from the dorm to my classes, a warm cup of my daily Colombian roast coffee, the mysteriously swampy coloring of river road (the area in the pictures), finding happy mail in my mailbox, a newly vacuumed floor, unexpectedly running into a friend and having a good chat... It doesn't take a lot to brighten my day. I think a large part of it is how much I really love living on my own. I feel like I've been given this clean slate, and now I'm experiencing life anew with all of my senses wide open, and every little thing is so special. Life is just so pleasantly full of... life!

Mint is such a popular color lately, it's not even funny. It's not funny because I totally owned it before everyone began obsessing over it. (Hah, ok. I kid. Sort of.) Since it entered the fashion scene, I've seen it most prominently in nail color and pants. It's one of those colors that can easily be incorporated into most outfits. My one pair of mint denim is a treasured item as it is the only pair of "colorful" pants I own... and they aren't even that far off from light-wash denim, just more green-blue tinted. I've just recently begun to be very interested in unique colors or prints on pants. They're an alternative to a statement shirt or jewelry. Thinking about the different clothing combinations with a coral or deep teal pair makes my head twirl. If I had the money for it, I would add so many more trousers to my wardrobe.

This broach is a gorgeously dainty little piece. I picked it up along with a couple other accent accessories at an antique store back in Tennessee, but I don't feel like I do it the justice it deserves. I wish I was able to show broaches off more, but I generally only wear them in two ways:

1. On the lapel of a blazer/cardigan, or
2. To hold a scarf in place

I guess those are really the only few ways to style a broach, but I want to challenge that. Any suggestions? I'm always open to new ideas.


Top: Forever 21, pants: A'GACI,
blazer: A'GACI, shoes: ModCloth, broach: antique store



I find this note-able...

These are just TOO COOL!

Repurposed



Top/pants: Forever 21,
collared shirt (underneath): thrifted, altered
shoes: Shoe Carnival



 So what if I'm writing this at 2:45 am? Sleep is for the weak. Or maybe it's "sleep is for the week," in which case I've got it all kinds of wrong. Anyways, I simply MUST share with you my latest inspiration. Rouche's newest lookbook, "Under the Tuscan Sun," is utterly gorgeous. I have literally swooned through it a dozen times by now. Besides the fact that I generally love all things Mediterranean (particularly the food), I absolutely adore the essence of everything found within the electronic pages of the lookbook. The colors, patterns, and fabrics have the breezy flow to them, and the clothing combinations? It blows my mind to see the art put into action. Way to go, Rouche. You've won my approval. Of course, it's not like I didn't admire them before. Because I did.

 

While we're on the subject (except not really because I hadn't directly mentioned it), allow me to explain the alterations to the blue, floral collared shirt. When I bought it several years ago, it was originally a dress. Or, sort of a dress. The bottom was a spandex sort of material with ruffled tiers for the "skirt" part. It was an awkward shortness, and I would never have worn it without pants. Needless to say, I preferred it to not look like that, so I removed the skirt section until where the buttons began, and then hemmed along the base. It soon became a short sleeved, button down blouse. The length was a bit shorter than a regular shirt, so it's more of a crop-top, good for layering and whatnot.

 

Before



After







                                    



Necklace: Charming Charlie,
earrings: thrifted,
ring: antique (great grandmother's)



I LOVE being able to reuse items for new purposes. Whether it be altering thrifted clothes or uncovering treasures from old jewelry, finding a way to make them work brings me joy. In my opinion, incorporating legit vintage items into one's wardrobe is a process that takes continual trial and error. Similar to being able to remix/combine outfits, you must be fearless and just attempt certain things sometimes. More often than not, the result will surprise you for the better. I admire those who are able to do it so effortlessly. Admiration and jealousy are two different concepts, right?

Defying Dreary

Well, here it all begins. My blogging journey sets sail on a drizzly, dreary day. The past weeks of incredible summer weather (complete with a dazzling sun, bright skies, and perfect breezes) has spoiled me, and now I expect every day to live up to these standards. Unfortunately, these expectations have been puréed into a nasty dampness, which also pretty much accurately describes three days worth of current weather conditions. I don't know about you, anonymous reader, but rainy weather makes me feel absolutely dull and void of all motivation... definitely not the kind of mentality that would encourage a well put together outfit, right? Wrong! It doesn't have to be sunny outside to feel sunny inside. Yes, I do realize how corny that sounds, but it's so very true. One thing I've learned in my years of wardrobing is to not let the weather regulate your choice of clothes. Other than assuring proper warmth and dryness and whatnot, your style should not be caged by a mere cloudy day. In fact, dressing up is one of the only ways I know how to combat Mother Nature's PMS-ing. When you look and feel cute, there's this automatic spread of cheerfulness in your body (that's serotonin for ya') that changes your outlook on the day, making it significantly more peppy. I decided to throw on a dress today and show the climate who's boss! ...that boss would be me.

The beautiful Erin and I took a trip to the neighboring town for some thrifting and antiquing. There were so many gorgeous pieces and unique knick knacks, as to be expected. It's strange to think about how these vintage items weren't always viewed as timeless. At some point, they were common in everyday life, perhaps even modern for the times. Now one looks at the styles and designs of things and is immediately thrown into a world of "back in those days." It really makes me wonder about when OUR generation's stuff will be viewed as outdated. It's approaching faster than you might guess. A few months back, as I was perusing yet another antique store, I found a complete collection of NSYNC bobble head dolls in the midst of all the old. Freaky? I believe so. I personally don't view my younger years as long ago enough to make vintage collectors items out of them!

                               

                                          

Dress: ModCloth, shoes: Wet Seal,
belt: A'Gaci, purse: Charming Charlie



I guess this would be a good opportunity to tell a little bit about the city of Manchester, TN, where I happen to currently reside. More than likely, you have never heard of Manchester unless you relate it to the yearly music festival,  "Bonnaroo." That's practically the only reason Manchester is on the map. However, for the other 361 days of the year, Manchester is... how do I put it delicately? It doesn't have much to offer. And I don't mean that in a "oh, it has the quaintness of a small town with undiscovered treasures" kind of way. It literally lacks things to do. Unless you really have passion for farming or Walmart, that is. Coming from someone who thrives in a city, one can easily fall into a flat line of boredom. But I don't want to single out the less than stellar thing about Manchester. It harbors some of the most incredible human beings (who I will eventually be introducing you to), for starters. There are a couple antique shops around here, but my bestie Erin and I generally venture to Tullahoma, the neighboring town, for our thrifting. Manchester does have an arts center on the square, which is a refreshing dash of culture. More importantly, it's a vital part of my life. As a member, I have involved myself in the plays and activities they've hosted for the past three years.
Manchester has potential, it's just a slow-growing society. You have to believe in it and continue to nurture its development, like a mother bird does its young. (Ok, so birds might not have been the most appropriate choice for my analogy, but it was the best I could come up with at the moment.) I will be the first to admit that I didn't believe in Manchester when I first moved here, but this last year has really allowed me to see things differently. 
                                                                                             

Ironically, the day turned into a pretty warm one by the time we got into town. I like to think it was the power of positive energy and our will to make it feel summery that turned it around, because that would obviously just prove my point. The sky was a still, blue-grey, but it was neither cold nor wet. I suppose this would be an acceptable alternative to my ideal weather that I described earlier. In a strange way, the sky seemed to capture the essence of my dress. The feel and color projects "calm," and that's the kind of day it was.