urban outfitters fall 2010 preview

My sister Rhiannon was sweet enough to share these Urban Outfitters preview photos with me last weekend during her visit, so I thought I'd share them with you all. Their Fall 2010 is very back-to-school 1980's preppy, and I like it.. especially the shoes. Two toned brown oxfords and lots more wooden platforms. Nice to see more thigh highs and faux fur scarves, as well.

And when I look at these photos, I can't stop thinking about Ferris Bueller. I think there's a little Revenge of the Nerds mixed in there, too.. but that may be simply because I watched it today.

My favorites? The velvet jacket, the thermal pants (they remind me of AA's riding pants), and the white striped dress. I really like the little pink dress with the rabbit/squirrel pattern, too.

And the more I see sheer black tights, the more I love them.

Catching the bus early in the morning to make it in time for work downtown.. which means it is officially past my bedtime.

the blues are still blue. chambray bows and sailor shorts

Photos by Neil!

Men's Chambray Button Up - Urban Outfitters (..and stolen from Neil)
High Waist Navy Sailor Shorts - Forever21
Chambray Polka Dot Bow Band - Forever21
1940's Fringe Tan Heels - gift from Rhi

Have you been hearing a lot of talk about the color blue lately? Well, so have I. Here's my take.

I've been lusting after these shorts ever since I went to Forever21 and reserved a pair when they sold out about a month ago. The double breasted buttons and cuffed legs are absolutely lovely.. but I also fell in love with this great chambray bow headband when we were in the store today. White polka dots! And when you can purchase a headband at Forever21 for less than four dollars, there isn't much incentive to spend time making one with supplies that cost about the same.

That doesn't mean that my plans to make a black lace bow hair comb tomorrow are canceled. I've been dreaming up the perfect Valentine's Day dress, and if I don't find it during my friend Lauren and my weekly shopping trip on Saturday, I'm going to reconstruct it from something I have - an old slip or the like. And while I dream of it, I can make hair accessories that will match my perfect dress.

And while this Urban Outfitters dress isn't in line for what I'm imagining for Valentine's Day wear, it is something I want desperately. And this UO jumper. And this lovely button up skirt Anja is selling. Oh chambray. I might just have to post about you.

Hey, and a random thought for you all. What is your take on fashion design school? Have any of you attended? I'm wondering what programs are worth it and if the whole experience itself is worth it, or if teaching yourself has more reward. What do you think?

(AGH! I completely forgot to announce a Dailee Dose giveaway winner today! Because I wanted to give you all enough warning to get your entry in, I will extend the giveaway until Friday afternoon! So for all that haven't entered, here is the original post..)

an inside day with aubrey beardsley

Photos by Neil!

Floral Ruffle Dress - Urban Outfitters

Mustard Cardigan, Black Lace Up Heels - H&M

Ivory Bow - Handmade

Yesterday felt like an inside day. I didn't want to do anything but sit on our couch, light a pumpkin spice candle, drink black coffee (ok, coffee with soy creamer, which rocks), and read.

Although.. these pictures are a bit misleading. I headed to the thrift store with Neil not long after they were taken. Thus, the shoes.

When I did get a chance to read later in the day, though, I picked a couple of books filled with images that never fail to inspire me - images drawn by Aubrey Beardsley, an English artist from the late 19th century.

I fell in love with Aubrey Beardsley's drawings during my Irish Renaissance class in college. We learned all about the incredible Oscar Wilde, which made me learn about his play, Salome, which introduced me to Beardsley's artwork for it.

Beardsley's work is so unique, kind of whimsically off balance. The women in his drawings, even the ones intended to be beautiful, are never altogether perfect or symmetrical. He gives many of his characters a cartoonish edge, but still manages to make their clothing romantic and almost ethereal.

He was also a bit of a rebel, drawing plenty of erotic images - all filled with nudity. Often, he would have to redraw an image for a book due to the graphic nature of the illustration. He was quoted as saying, "I have one aim - the grotesque. If I am not grotesque, I am nothing."

This all changed towards the end of his life. Beardsley converted to Catholicism. Rebel no more.

I have two books of Aubrey.. one is a compilation of his drawings and another is specifically his Le Morte d'Arthur work, which he completed over 200 drawings for. He drew Le Morte d'Arthur when he was only 20! Sadly, all of his work happened within five years of that beginning achievement, because he died of tuberculosis at 25.

When you have a chance, look up pictures of Beardsley. His side profile is memorable - he has a distinct, sloping face that makes me happy inside.

Yes for weekends! I'm hitting up the Tennessee flea market with my mother in law tomorrow, who is staying with us for a couple nights. What are your plans?

charleston, charleston!

Photos by Mom!

Gray Dress - Forever21

Plaid Hair Bow - Handmade

Plaid Tiny Fit Blazer - Thrifted

Black Crocheted Knee High Socks - Urban Outfitters

Lace Up Heels - H&M

Last weekend, my mom, sisters, and I took a trip to Charleston! I didn't know what to expect, so when we drove in, I was in awe. The beauty of it all really overwhelmed me - it was hard to find a street or alleyway that wasn't charming and manicured and well-preserved. The entire city seems to glow.

We stayed on Meeting Street, in a fantastic home built in 1740. The rooms we stayed in were originally where the servants slept, above the kitchen - which boasted a massive brick fireplace over 10 feet wide! Every room had a fireplace in it, and wonderful, creaky hardwood floors. The owner of the house told us a story about guests staying in the rooms beneath us hearing children running all over our rooms above them one night - when no one was staying there at all. That night, Rhi turned the kitchen light on when I wasn't looking and then told me it was a kid ghost that did it. I kept waiting for the ghost to turn the light back off.

We went shopping, took a haunted jail tour (TERRIFYING), listened to Dixieland jazz (banjo! wonderful), took pictures in pretty cemeteries, walked around the Battery, and ate some fantastic seafood. I even found a place that hand rolls their own cigars, so I had to take one home for Neil. Coffee was a highlight, too.. City Lights Coffee in downtown Charleston serves Counter Culture, which is the best coffee I've ever had. And all of this with my beautiful mom and sisters.

The history of the city was the best part of it all.. voodoo history, pirate history (Blackbeard and Anne Bonny!! I did a pirate presentation in 5th grade and have been in love with them since then), the Revolutionary War and the Civil War and everything before, in between, and after. And the pride of Charleston's people when talking about these events.. and their ancestor's direct involvement with them. We had the opportunity to listen to our bed and breakfast owner talk about his home's history as well as give us tips on what to see in the city. He knew the city backwards and forwards, having lived there his entire life, and he was only too happy to share his own Charleston stories. To have that much passion and enthusiasm for your hometown, a place filled with your own personal tales as well as those of history's greats, like Washington and Beauregard and Sherman - your own history crosses paths with your country's history. How wonderful to play a part.

And the accents in Charleston! You don't truly know a Southern accent - and the differences between the accents depending on the area - until you live in the South. And the South Carolina accent is slow, deliberate, and effortlessly refined. I could listen to them talk for weeks.

The conclusion? Visit Charleston. Preferably with lovely family.

date night in nashville and my latest crafting project

(Here is the plaid hair bow I just made! I had some leftover fabric from hemming a wool Pendleton jumper that's in the shop, and I decided to put it to good use.) 

Today, we are in South Carolina! My mom, sisters Rhi and Ash, and I are having a girl's weekend in Charleston, and I can't wait! We hit up Charleston tomorrow.. tonight, we stay with Ash and family.

This will be the first time Neil and I have been apart for longer than a night since we were married last fall.. and we have dreaded the separation a bit. I know it's only a weekend, but I'm so accustomed to seeing him regularly. I miss him when he works for nine hours.. and usually, I'm not even awake for all of those nine hours.

So, due to the weekend away, Neil and I decided to have a date night last night. We went to Urban Outfitters, had dinner and coffee at Fido, and headed to the Belcourt to see It Might Get Loud!

It Might Get Loud is a documentary about how different artists interpret the guitar, starring Jack White, Jimmy Page, and the Edge from U2. I'll be honest, I couldn't care less about U2. But Led Zeppelin and THE WHITE STRIPES.. well. It was fantastic. We bought a 7" vinyl of a song Jack White records in the film, bluesy and rock and real. 

It was all so, so fun and relaxed.. lots of bright lights and old brick and side streets and walking around cool shops and hand holding. The city was beautiful and so many people were out living it up.. and it felt good to make plans for just the two of us. We've never been to the historical Belcourt theatre before! I feel like going there every weekend now - maybe we'll run into a ghost from the silent film days!

What I wore.. 

Patterned top - Urban Outfitters (the tie at the neck is a random black ribbon from one of my dresses)

Striped shorts - Forever21

Cable knit hat - H&M

Black cardigan, black low heels - Thrifted 

(My shorts and tights inspiration I owe to Andrea, Vanessa, and Diane! Those three women wear shorts with tights effortlessly.)

More on our upcoming Charleston vacation very, very soon!