study date

For my birthday weekend (yes, I get a whole week, dontcha worry about it), I asked Ted to accompany me on a small tour of the best coffee shops in Portland since my busy week ahead demanded that I do a hefty amount of work.  We only hit three, but they were quite lovely. My favorite drink was the Tanglewood chai at Either/Or, and my favorite dog was at Extracto, but my favorite all around was Cathedral, which had the perfect study vibe, tasty pastries, and a pretty meadow outside for artsy iphone photos (Thanks, Ted).  For our day-long coffee date, I chose my comfiest, cutest dress and paired it with my ripped tights, oxfords, and my newest favorite,  my jean jacket.  I excitedly added my new tri-colored stacked rings with my perfectly matching bunting necklace.  Yay!

Strange to think that study dates will be a thing of the past soon (at least for me--Ted is going to be prepping for law school soon--eek).  They will become planning and dreaming dates, where I scribble ideas for my dream business.  I guess I can live with that.

Dress/Asos, Jean Jacket/Here We Go Again (my work!), Brooch/Vintage, Tights/Unknown, Oxfords/Buffalo Exchange, Necklace/Madewell, Stacked Rings/Kate Spade, Circle Ring/Edina Kiss

desert flower

I nearly didn't make it up to our favorite spot in Sedona on Airport Road.  It was ridiculously windy and I was wearing a skirt.  Not only that, the full skirt has precarious snaps instead of a zipper because I made it years ago when I was afraid of messing up sewing in a zipper. Translation:  this skirt was not made for climbing rocks, especially not in the wind.  I stood halfway up the little lookout for about ten minutes until the wind calmed down enough for me to risk flashing the couple and family below us.  Luckily I got up without too much difficulty, and Ted took some windswept photos of me.  The weather felt incredible, especially after spending a few days in the Phoenix heat romping around Mesa, downtown Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Gilbert.  We welcomed the change of scenery and weather, even if it wasn't that much cooler during the day.

This outfit screams Arizona to me for some reason.  Maybe it's the combination of a little redneck with the cutoff vest, a little cowboy with the bandana-like floral skirt, and a little Native American with the silver accessories.  Plus, my sandals matched the red rock.  It's just a fun, very me look in the way that it's a a bit weird and themed.  I just had to put this getup on to have a little photoshoot and Picazzo's dinner date with Ted, even if it meant flashing an innocent family for half a second.

Vest/Nordstrom Rack, Skirt/handmade by me, Cactus Earrings/unknown, AZ Necklace/Kris Nations, Belt/vintage, Sandals/Saltwater 

polka dots & tulle

While in Paris, I tried to embrace my inner Parisian by wearing darker colors (to only some success) and letting my hair run wild like the casual, chic French girl I wish I was.  The weather was so lovely that I literally felt like I was in a fairytale as I walked around the city.  The tulle helped.  

That morning we went to Claus for a proper brunch (the first of the semester--we had our second one this past weekend at The Blue Legume in Islington.  These Portlanders need their brunch fix...).  We were unable to get in on my birthday, so I was happy to be able to eat there before we left Paris.  

I did not want to leave Paris.  France was so kind to us, with Nice's views and Paris' magic.  We spent our last full day there going to the Musee de l'Orangerie and the Eiffel Tower, where we had a picnic of bread, cheese, cheese, strawberries, bread, and cheese, followed by two hours waiting in line to get a lift up the tower.  We saw the glittering lights of the city from the top.  When we came back down to reality, I accidentally ordered fries and saw the tower sparkle.

Top/J.Crew, Skirt/Urban Outfitters, Necklace/Kate Spade, Tights/Topshop, Shoes/Dansko

fit for tea

This dress has always been a favorite of mine because the pretty embroidery makes it such a unique piece.  To me it really says "whimsical tea party," although I probably just think that because I wore it at my seventeenth birthday Alice in Wonderland tea party.  Regardless, it makes the perfect dress for wandering around the park dog watching and sipping on some tea in the nearby cafe.

Dress/Anthropologie, Leggings/Amazon, Cardigan/H&M, Belt/Thrifted, Boots/Nordstrom, Necklace/Kate Spade (It's upside down, making it 'oops la la' instead of 'ooh la la.'  Oops.), Circle ring/Edina Kiss, Glasses ring/Kate Spade, Jacket/Merrell, Heart/Ban.do, Purse/Kate Spade

colorful in kensington

Not surprisingly, I'm the only person I've seen in Kensington with bright tights.  I've seen a few dark purples on the tube, but nothing to rival my lime green, hot pink, or bright yellow ones.  It's a little unnerving being the odd one out in a sea of black and gray figures, but I'm trying to embrace it.  I just need to get back out to Shoreditch (where the Brick Lane markets I mentioned were) to discover the more colorful bits of London.  Across from where Eva and I took photos was a cute little furniture store with this crazy and colorful patchwork that was even more colorful than me, which I appreciated finding amongst the posh designer stores nearby (although the prices at the furniture store were just as expensive).  

I absolutely love Kensington.  In our neighborhood, we have beautiful residential buildings, a lovely French pastry shop called Aux Merveilleux with meringues and chocolate brioche, an "authentic American" cupcake shop called Hummingbird Bakery, and multiple free museums.  I have so much more left to explore. More museums, more pastries!  The other day I went to the Natural History Museum with some people, and today Eva and I saw a small part of the Victoria & Albert Museum, including the fashion section which was so wonderful.  We're making progress, but there is so much more to see!

Dress/vintage, Cardigan/H&M, Headband/J.Crew, Earrings/Kate Spade, Ring/Kate Spade, Tights/Angelina, Shoes/Dansko

winter is coming

It's been a cold November so far.  We're heading fast into winter.  I'm already excited for what little snow we might get this year!  In a little over two weeks, I go home.  A month from today will be the last day of classes.  In less than two months, I will be in London.  What even is life?  I'm not complaining (except about the whole I-still-have-a-month-of-school-left thing).  It's just a lot to take in.

In the meantime, I'm enjoying the season of plaid, wool, and annoying colds (Ted and I were both sick this weekend).  It seems like every time it starts getting cold, I become infatuated with gray.  It's not a color I usually gravitate towards, but as winter approaches, it seems rather appropriate, especially paired with plaid.  Oh, plaid.

Plaid Dress/Urban Outfitters, Red Dress/Urban Outfitters, Coat/Old Navy, Velvet Headband/from when I was a kiddo, Schnauzer Brooch/Vintage, Belt/Thrifted, Tights/Urban Outfitters, Shoes/Born

october 8th

Two years ago on October 8th, Ted and I went on our first date.  I wore this skirt, so being Kaylie, naturally I had to wear it on our anniversary.  So much has happened since then... We're juniors now.  We're going to London in the spring.  Not to mention my hair has tripled in length. I am so lucky I met Ted when I did (about a month or so into freshman year) because college certainly would not be the same without him.  It certainly would not include as many musicals (we spontaneously saw Anything Goes the other day.  Life with Ted, man.  Anything goes, indeed) or as much happiness. 

To celebrate our anniversary, we went to the coast this weekend.  Thankfully Fall Break fell conveniently this Wednesday night (Ted's birthday) through Sunday, so we were able to enjoy Ted's birthday and our anniversary at a leisurely pace.  I have so much to post about the coast--it was so beautiful and a much-needed escape from school and reality.  It was the perfect way to celebrate the last two years together.  It restored my energy and soul to be near the water with one of my best friends.

Top/Anthropologie, Skirt/Urban Outfitters, Cardigan/handmedown, Barrette/Anthropologie, Scarf/Anthropologie, Necklace (worn as bracelet)/Kate Spade, Belt/thrifted, Tights/H&M, Shoes/Minnetonka, Photos/Ted

it's pumpkin time

On October 1st, I woke up and thought, "Today is the first day of October!" and the song "We Need a Little Christmas" immediately popped into my head as I got dressed in this outfit.  It stayed there all day, despite my full-on Autumnal outfit.  Christmas obsession aside, I like to give every holiday its time to shine (which is why I swear off Christmas music and decor until midnight strikes after Thanksgiving).  Right now, pumpkins get my full attention.

Literally.  I could stare at tiny pumpkins all day and be pretty okay with that.  What is about them that are so sweet and cheerful?

Portland isn't taking Fall lightly this year.  When it's not constant downpour, it's freezing.  The Burrow isn't insulated very well, either.  I've been spending my nights doing homework under layers of blankets in my puffy North Face jacket and fuzzy socks.  Fuzzy socks are crucial.  I do love the rain though.  It's a reason to get cozy, drink tea, and wear bright tights.  Also: baking.  Ted and I made Banana Espresso Chocolate Chip Muffins last Saturday night while listening to Michael Buble, and let me just say--this is a good use of a Saturday night.  We brought them to our London meeting the next morning and they were a hit!  This is why you buy your boyfriend baking recipe books for holidays, guys.

Dress/Francesca's, Cardigan/Anthropologie, Boots/Nordstrom, Barrette/Anthropologie, Necklace/Kate Spade, Belt/Thrifted, Ring/Edina Kiss, Tights/Target, Photos/Ted

blog announcement

For as long as I can remember, I've been interested in clothes.  I feel like I experimented a lot with my style growing up.  I remember getting a lot of "I never would be able to pull that off!" comments throughout junior high and high school.  I never thought my style was reaaaaally out there, but I suppose my outfits were eccentric enough to stand out as not being the typical go-to options for the average girl.  I've never, ever been a "t-shirt and jeans" kind of girl.  I tend to mix patterns and go for sometimes odd brightly colored pallets.  I like hats, and rarely wear pants.  In junior high, I was frequently mistaken for being on a girls sports team because they were asked to dress up on game days.  I'd reply laughing, "Nope, I just like dresses!"  Now dresses seem to be the norm, but back then, not so much, at least where I was.

I remember the moment in junior high when the world came crashing down on me--I finally made the startling connection in my mind that I wasn't the only one in the world who was interested in the past--other people liked vintage stuff too!  I had 50's birthday party in 5th grade, and starting antiquing in 6th grade (after a trip to the antique store with my grandma to find pieces for my Alice Paul getup--for a school project--sparked my interest).  I can even trace some of my style tendencies back to my childhood obsessions with Nancy Drew and my much loved American Girl dolls.

Despite my long love affair with fashion, I'm not the typical enthusiast.  My wardrobe consists mostly of things I've had for years, my mom's hand-me-downs, and holiday dresses (the best kind) I got while shopping with my stylish grandma.  Rarely do I add something new to my wardrobe, because a) I can't afford to sustain a shopping habit, b) Despite my love of fashion, I like classic shapes, and have no interest in keeping up with the latest trends, c) I have plenty of clothes already, so a dress here or there is all I can justify/store anyways.

One of the reasons I am attracted to costume design is the idea that everyone has a personal style that says something about them, whether intentional or not. I can appreciate so many different fashion sensibilities, while never desiring to don a similar get-up.  However, there are some styles that I find very appealing and wish I could pull off, but that are regrettably not "me."

A part of me desires to be as clean and simple as Audrey Hepburn, but in reality, most days I'm more of a Frizzle than a Hepburn.  Sure, I like clean lines and ballet flats, but I also like wearing polka dots, fruit-covered cardigans, brightly colored tights, and appreciate a well-planned themed outfit paired with my wild curly hair that I never comb. Not to mention there is nothing I love more than dressing in holiday-inspired outfits.  I'd like to think at my best, my Frizzle-like tendencies can transcend to be tastefully tongue-in-cheek, like my favorite brand, Kate Spade.  At my worst, I am a walking Christmas tree or Valentine, a themed outfit turned too literal (like when I wore an actual giant present bow in my hair--but that was pretty awesome, I must say).  But even then, I'm 100% Kaylie.

On that note, I want to announce that I am going to begin posting outfits regularly.  I've been wanting to do this for a LONG time, but have never had the courage to do it (there have been many instances that Ted and I will go out with the intention to take outfit pictures and in short, I chicken out).  Admittedly, I still have some courage to muster up, but I think that ultimately it will be good for my creativity and confidence to document something that brings me such joy.  Stay tuned for some crazy colorful and/or themed outfits!

outfit for: bike ride & coffee

dress/forever 21 (gift), cardigan/nordstrom rack, belt/thrifted, necklace/kate spade (gift), hairpiece worn as pin/boutique, hat/vintage, bracelets/gift, tights/h&m, shoes/vans (handed down to me by my little sister's friend.....)

Ted and I had a lovely time in Tempe yesterday.  We took a bikeride around the lake, warmed up with a cappuccino and chai (and a free "screwed up" mocha, that was delcious) at Cartel, and explored Mill a bit.  More posts about his visit are to come, but for now I will leave you with a Where's Waldo picture of Ted and a sad longing-to-help-stray-kitties picture of Ted.