She twines her spines up slowly...

Hi, doves! I haven't done a shoot in my favourite tree since way, way back in this post. I had intended to shoot this outfit in one of our tiny local cemeteries, but my old spot called to me. It's crazy to see how much this area has grown in the past few years. It's wilder now, tougher to navigate, which makes me love it even more. I always feel at home in this tree; it's a place I'll return to time and again to clear my head. Though the briars and sharp snapped ends of branches tore my sweater and scraped up my back, it didn't even register at the time. All I felt was peace of mind. 

(Old Ruche sweater, old ModCloth dress, vintage belt, thredUP boots)

Also, I had wanted to incorporate this gorgeous vintage bag, but none of the shots worked out (anyone else feel awkward trying to maneuver a giant bag??) But I figured I'd show it to you anyway because it's so lovely.

Title from "Far From Any Road" by the Handsome Family.

Copper and corduroy.

Hi, doves! Just a quick post this week as life has been out of hand lately. But I still wanted to share these photos because this is one of my favourite autumnal outfits thus far. I was looking for the perfect seventies-inspired striped top and just happened to find it in TJ Maxx last week! Also, if you obsessively hunt for corduroy skirts (among other things) like I do, thredUP is a gold mine.

(Tulle jacket, TJ Maxx top, thredUP skirt, vintage boots and belt)

 Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Moss and leaves.

Hi, doves! So, some days just don't go as planned, and that's all right, you know? When I took these photos, I wasn't feeling all that well, and I'd already played around with another outfit and hated it (meh, it happens). But I made myself try out this outfit I've been waiting ages to wear and forced my sad sack self back outside. And I'm glad I did!

(Ruche dress, ? blouse (I'll figure it out eventually), Sock Dreams socks, Chase & Chloe shoes)

(Fake heron photobomb... Protecting the creatures of our pond!)

I don't know about you guys, but I'm feeling pretty whatever about September. Bring on October and chilly bike rides and bonfires! I can't wait for the leaves to change and the air to smell of dirt and leaves and smoke.

Witches in disguise...

Hi, doves! I figured this would be the perfect time for me to crawl out from under my rock since it's the first day of autumn here and, most importantly, because Halloween is on its way! 

Sometimes the blurriest photos are my favourite...

(Constantly fidgeting with my belt...)

(Top, tights, shoes - ModCloth, corduroy skirt - HauteLook, belt - stolen from my mum)

I've been gradually getting my house ready for the season and our annual Halloween shindig (including playlist construction). This summer was insanely busy as usual (we finally picked a wedding venue and date! You know, only two years later. We've been together nearly ten years; "rushing" isn't in our vocabulary heh), so I'm ready to slow down a bit and enjoy the fall.

I have a bunch of autumnal and Halloween inspired outfits coming up, and I'm super excited to get back into it. So stay tuned!

(Title from the Edgar Allan Poe story "The Black Cat.")

Indie-grunge?

I've never known how to describe my style. It's comfortable, but I do prefer skirts and tights or socks over pants. And while it is something I've developed over the years since high school, I've never aspired to be that super polished, put together girl. I don't do my hair (wash, air dry, and live with what I get is my daily routine), my makeup is minimal (I have no real skills here), and I buy my cardigans a size up to ensure maximum coziness.

So, as I was going through these photos, the (completely made up) phrase "indie-grunge" popped into my head and the light bulb went off. That's it! I think I'll forever be some combination of 90s meets early 2000s. It makes sense since that's when I was growing up and really coming into my own. Obviously I'm not dressing the same way I did in high school and college, but I do still have a few cherished pieces from those times. Like this Cursive tee! One of my beloved band tees I somehow managed to keep hold of all these years. And to be honest, it fits better now than it ever did back then. 

I think this whole outfit is the epitome of my personal style. Cozy cardigan? Check. Plaid? Check. Favourite band tee? Check! Also, this skirt is super soft and the way it falls reminds me of tying a flannel shirt around my waist a la the entire cast of My So-Called Life... which I've recently realized is one of the many shows I was probably way too young to be watching at the time... Ah, the 90s. 

(Vintage sweater - Ruche skirt - old Saddle Creek tee - Target tights - ModCloth shoes)

We chose to keep our teenage tragedy...

Though I'm glad my teenage years are well behind me, I have no problem admitting that "sulky teenager" is still a part of my personality. Wallowing is absolutely one of my most beloved pastimes. I think I've just always been easily sucked into sadness. All of my favourite songs and books and movies? Sad, sad, sad (or scary. But fear is another weird preoccupation of mine). I'm always searching for the gutting kind of sad that knocks the wind out of you. This line from a Rilo Kiley song sums me up pretty well, "You say I choose sadness, that it never once has chosen me. Maybe you're right." 

That said, I have learned how to not take myself, or anything, really, too seriously. This sweatshirt (and every single piece I've bought from Stay Home Club... I want all of it, okay?) is another way of showing that the sullen (and kind of a jerk) kid inside me is still alive and well... while having a bit of a laugh at myself at the same time. 

Besides, if you can't make fun of yourself on the almighty Interwebz now and then, what's the point?

(BCBGeneration dress as skirt - Stay Home Club sweatshirt - Tulle collared shirt - Target Tights - ModCloth boots)

With my red wings on...

Well! It's been, what, a year? Yikes. It was an incredibly busy year, and it took me quite some time to find the inspiration to blog again. I had some random health issues (I'm fine!). We bought and moved house. Many of my friends (including my brother!) are having kids. That kind of busy. But eventually the need for a creative outlet always finds me. 

(ModCloth cardigan, shoes, & socks - beloved society6 tee - old f21 skirt)

The light was brilliant when I got home this past Monday, so I decided to run outside (after switching back to socks from tights) and see what I got. For only shooting for about fifteen or so minutes and aside from the lack of variety (I'll put more effort into that next time), I'm pretty happy with these! And it felt good to get out there. So there's that! 

I don't know exactly where I'm going with this blog, but I've had the desire to branch out a bit for a while. There's no set direction, so if anyone has any ideas, suggestions, or advice please let me know! 

I'm an owl on the sill in the evening...

Hi, doves! I thought I should take a break from moping over the end of Parks and Rec (And I do mean moping. It wasn't a sob fest; it was something more. I have felt genuinely melancholy?... disheartened?... I guess I can't really find the word for it, but it hit hard... Ahem. Anyway!) to do something, you know, productive. And we had a warm, sunny day this past weekend. So, I actually willingly went out to take photos. Thank goodness there are only twenty-two days  until spring!

My brother gave me this hat for Christmas, and it goes perfectly with this dress! I'm slowly but surely trying to accessorize more. I've never been one for jewelry, but I do think accessories can make an outfit much more interesting. I'm working on it! It sounds silly, but this hat is a big step for me.

(Vintage cardigan, wool hat from brother, ModCloth dress & booties, Target tights)

This photo is basically just a reminder that my bangs could use a trim. 

 

I snagged this dress from ModCloth during one of their last sales. Bespectacled owls? Obviously I couldn't pass it up. 

I'm currently stuck home on a snow day, so I think it's time to have a cuppa tea and do a little yoga. Have a great weekend!



Post title from "This Tornado Loves You" by Neko Case.

Velvet grunge.

Hi, doves! It feels so good to be back on a weekly posting schedule!

This is what I wore (with one exception) to a show in New York this past Saturday. I switched to a lighter knit, striped cardigan. Thank goodness I did! It was so deathly hot in the theatre that I would have been murderous in this sweater (have I mentioned I hate the heat? Because I hate it!). 

I was a little iffy about the whole outfit because it looked pretty Valentine's Day-ish to me (if you've followed me for a while, you'll remember I created my own anti-Valentine's Day holiday called Lime Green & Turquoise Day!). I'm hoping it looks a little more grungy though. The skirt makes me think of the velvet chokers I used to wear as a kid. But perhaps I'm just seeing what I want to see!

I took these photos in three different spots all with different lighting. Because some days I just don't know what I'm going for...

(UO cardigan, ancient thrifted top, ModCloth skirt, Target tights, Ruche boots)

 

(I had a ton of in focus twirling photos, but whatever. I like this blurry, awkward one best.)

Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely weekend (and Friday the 13th)! 

Going up?

Hi, doves! Well, so much for my goal to post every two weeks. One of my SD cards vanished into thin air (now that I think about it, I wouldn't be surprised if one of the cats decided to bat it around and sent it off into the void!), and I lost a bunch of photos. Womp, womp. But I had some time this weekend, so I went out and re-shot this outfit the other day. All is not lost!

This has become a favourite casual outfit of mine. It's perfect for running around on weekends. I bought this skirt from  Threadless on a bit of a whim, and I'm glad I did! Here I paired it with my hot air balloon tee even though I wasn't sure about the prints together at first. The combination definitely grew on me. The skirt print is actually wee row boats! But I keep seeing them as indecisive little arrows. 

(UO cardigan, Threadless tee & skirt, ModCloth socks, shoes)

This weekend we're going to a show (any Jason Isbell fans out there?) in New York with my best dude friend and my brother, so I'll be back next week with what I wore! I haven't been to a show in so long that it's starting to depress me. Another goal for this year: more music!