in which i embrace tomboy style

Yesterday my friend Steph mentioned the new book Tomboy Style to me.  The blog of the same name breaks tomboy style into seven basic archetypes: the sophisticate, the prep, the naturalist, the rebel, the girl next door, the jock, and the adventuress.  I've never considered myself a tomboy by any stretch of the imagination (although I guess I basically was all throughout middle school, sartorially, at least--but we don't like to think about those years), but the idea of tomboy style has definitely appealed to me of late (I think, stylewise, I'm most drawn toward tomboy prep and travel style [clothes that work while exploring foreign lands--which I equate with the adventuress]).  This outfit is a perfect example of why it just doesn't quite work.  I'm short, but I'm not waif-like.  Oversized shirts just make me look... oversized.  Flats make me look... flat.  I suppose it's nothing a classic trench can't improve upon, but still.  I'm just never going to be a Francoise Hardy.

(shirt: land's end, thrifted; scarf: thrifted; jeans: pacsun; moccasins: minnetonka; trench: h&m)

I'm determined to find ways to make the look work for me... so basically, what I've always done in the past (add short skirt and heels).  What do you think of tomboy style?  Which archetype do you most identify with?

I've been super lazy lately, and I'm not really sure why.  Maybe it's the gloomy weather inspiring hibernation, but I've basically just spend the past few evenings watching marathon episodes of "Say Yes to the Dress" and wishing that I worked in a bridal salon (how fun would that be??) or designed dresses.  I did experience a small burst of inspiration a couple of days ago and started working on my ice cream dress, and made a small collage, but that's about it.  I am definitely looking forward to the weekend, for some serious rest and rejuvenation.  And I want K to be finished with the semester so we can hang out again.

in which i wear camel on hump day

I think this is secretly my favorite kind of outfit. Classic colors, sort of preppy, with big, sixties hair and high, high heels. While I will always love a fun frock, I just feel so age-appropriate and sartorially organized in clothes like these. My coffee was the same color as my sweater today. It makes me think of a (movie?) where the assistant to someone high-powered (I'm thinking Devil Wears Prada, but can't remember) puts milk in the coffee so that it is camel-colored, but the bosslady had actual said "caramel-colored," not camel. I don't know why that amused me so.

(sweater: target; skirt/belt/scarf: thrifted; shoes: lulu*s)

My friends and I stopped at Target when we were in Plattsburgh, since Vermont doesn't have one and we all love it (I would be delighted if all Walmarts in the state were magically transformed into Targets). Apparently it will be at least five years before we get one here, which I actually really support (I hate box stores--our state is too little and lovely for them!), but it doesn't mean that I don't want to shop there when I have the opportunity!

Things have been pretty busy lately, which I have countered with then being lazy and going to bed early. K and I have been watching lots of Californication and I'm finally nearing the end of The Adventures of Augie March, which I actually really love but haven't been able to sit down and focus on for extended periods of time. Tonight will probably be no different!

Happy Hump Day from Camel-Colored Caitlin!

in which i emerge from the fog

I'm feeling a lot better today after a full 24 hour respite. I called in sick and spent all of yesterday swimming in a sea of blankets, tissues, and Nyquil (and finishing the last of Felicity--definitely see the J.J. Abrams influence in those final few episodes ;P). I still feel like my head is full of smoggy air (I promise that is not my natural state), and am hoping for another long, luxurious night of sleep to cure me completely in time for my birthday tomorrow! Today I just wanted to be comfortable for my return to the office, and opted for a cozy knit dress :)

(dress: modcloth; boots: seychelles; tights: hue)

As you can see, I did push through the fog of my head cold to trim my bangs last night. They were getting out of hand.

Did anyone else watch Felicity (I know I'm yeaaaaars behind on this one--last year I ploughed through Ally McBeal, so you can see I'm slowly catching up)? It's funny, because especially in the first season I kept recognizing clothes that some of the characters were wearing (specifically Julie Emerick--who was SUCH an annoying character I'm glad she went off to find herself and spared us for the last few seasons) from my middle- to early-high school days. She had a couple of shirts that I'm positive I had circled in the Alloy catalog (does anyone remember that?--Alloy and dEliA*s were the big thing back then). I'm curious--were you rooting for Ben or Noel?

in which i am a green monster

When I dreamed this outfit up in my mind the greens of the blazer and shorts were a lot more compatible. Oh, well. I purposefully paired these shoes with the blazer because they both have orange accents (I like sneaky matching like that). I think this sweater is so soft and lovely--I can't believe someone gave it away (the pack rat in me is appalled by some of the things I find in thrift stores)!

(blazer/sweater/shorts/belt: thrifted; shoes: poetic licence)

K and I still haven't gotten around to carving our funny pumpkin, so hopefully we have some time this weekend and find ourselves in the spirit. I am pretty excited for Project Runway tonight, and maybe a little bit of champagne :) We also need to watch some scary movies--I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to the whole horror genre (I like scaring myself less and less as I get older--does that mean I'm getting boring?), so I usually hold out until the actual night of Halloween to load up on terror (when the fear is tempered somewhat by an overdose of chocolate and candy corn). Monsters and bugs aren't a big deal, but mean ghosts and murderers scramble my nerves.

Do you like scary movies?

in which i roll in royal blue

After yesterday's neutrals, I was craving some color this morning. I found this (too big) sweaterdress/tunic from Express at Goodwill recently and fell instantly in love with the color. I've been wanting a dress in this royal blue hue ever since I saw a brunette on The Bachelor wearing the color and looking lively and fun. (Inspiration can be found everywhere!) I've kind of been embracing the slouch/shirtdress lately, maybe because I need to go to the gym, but mostly because comfort is key when you're sitting in an office all day, and I feel like I'm wearing my pajamas!

(dress: express via goodwill; scarf: thrifted; boots: seychelles)

Since K and I have both been epically broke lately (and it's been grey/rainy), we've been spending a lot of time watching movies/TV shows on Netflix (well, mostly I have--he's been studying). Our most recent discovery is Party Down, a funny little show about Los Angeleans working for a catering company while waiting for their big breaks in Hollywood. This is my favorite kind of show: an understated and hilariously awkward character study in the spirit of The Office and Flight of the Conchords (which I hope everyone has seen/heard of). We also rather recently laughed all the way through the first season of The League, which I stumbled on because it stars married couple Mark Duplass and Katie Aselton (who I first saw in the charming indie comedy The Puffy Chair), who I think are great.

Oh, and Pinterest is awesome. I couldn't sleep last night and spent far too much time scrolling through the pins. It's not complicated anymore :) Mostly I was just annoyed that it forced me to create a Twitter!

in which i boo bravo

I almost didn't wear this outfit today, even though I was already wearing it, because it felt too autumnal. Then I decided not to be silly any wore it anyway. I think it works for summer too, yes?

(tunic/belt: thrifted; socks: uo; shoes: seychelles; feather fastener: gift from k)

Tonight I'm going to drink many margaritas and eat lots of cheese (burrito? fajitas? nachos? still undecided...) with some friends (and brothers).

On a completely unrelated (and a bit of a downer--sorry!) note, I just wanted to briefly touch on something that is really troubling to me. I stumbled upon this article while looking through the TV Guide online for movies to watch last night, and it really disturbed me. Now, I'm as guilty as anyone for getting inexplicably sucked in to the vortex of reality television, and I'm ashamed to admit that I did watch a lot more of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills than anyone in their right mind should be able to withstand (okay, mostly because Camille Grammar's painfully pathetic delusion was fascinating to watch). Now, we have no way of knowing whether or not such a tragedy would have occurred regardless of Bravo's influence on (and interference in) the lives of the Armstrong family, but the fact of the matter is that these are people's REAL LIVES that we are toying with here. And I'm sure that Russell Armstrong was a lot less enthused about the prospect of being involved in this vanity project than his wife was, which made it only worse as she went and proceeded to broadcast their marital problems on national television (and subsequently file for divorce) and cry about what a failure of a man/husband he was. There is only so much anyone can take. I'm just pretty disgusted with the state of the world in general right now, and this was the tipping point. What do you think? Is there any way to stop networks like Bravo from enabling the destruction of people's lives while the world watches? Is there any way to get viewers to stop watching this parade of melodramatic filth? I for one will no longer be watching any of the Real Housewives shows, regardless of how rainy and cold it is on future Sunday afternoons.