I went to the wedding of two good friends a few weeks ago, and decided to wear both something old and something new.  The old came in vintage accessories: a vintage purse (80′s, I believe), vintage pearls from a garage sale, and my grandmother’s ring.  The new came in a brand new (discontinued) Boden dress that I bought on eBay. I had to get it tailored, so this was its first official outing.

I didn’t get to take any photos at the wedding, but the location was gorgeous.  It was at Cross Creek Ranch, a little rustic spot just outside of Tampa. The ceremony was under a huge oak tree, while the reception was in a quaint renovated barn.  It was really beautiful all around, and one of the nicer, more personal weddings that I’ve been to.

Dress: Boden (via eBay)
Sandals: Dansko Novalee (via eBay)
Purse: Vintage
Pearls: Vintage
Ring: Belonged to my grandmother
Bangles: Jill Popowich

No, unfortunately this post is not written from NYC.  Nor do I have any plans in the immediate future to go there (although if the chance came up, believe me I would go!).  But, I am wearing a little piece of NYC today in the form of my new favorite vintage scarf.  I found this one while shopping at a local vintage shop a few weeks ago and found this scarf while digging around there.  I immediately fell in love with it, and even though I sometimes have trouble styling vintage scarves, I went for it.  And I’m so glad I did.

The simple black, white and yellow color scheme is so “me”, and it goes with pretty much everything.  I styled it as a sort of handkerchief tie this time (tutorial up soon) and I really like how it looked.  Plus, the silk provided just enough warmth for a balmy 65 degree winter day (seriously, this winter is way too warm this year).

This is what the scarf looks like unfolded.  It has nine different panels, each with a different scene from 1960′s NYC.  The World’s Fair was held in NYC in 1964, and the location is show on the subway map panel.  Other panels include the Rockfeller Center, the Empire State building, Central Park, the United Nations, the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, and the public library  It also shows lower Manhattan pre-construction of the World Trade Center, which started in the late 1960′s.  Kind of sad since that’s now how Lower Manhattan looks once again.

I’ve included thumbnails of several of the panels below.  Click on them to get a larger view.

Cardigan: Bobeau (via Nordstrom Rack)
Capris: Erik Stewart (thrifted)
Shoes: Merrell Brio
Scarf: Vintage (via Sherry’s Yesterdaze)
Purse: Morelle

I’ve had this cardigan for a long time, but it never occurred to me until this week that it could work great tied up as well as loose.  I like how the layering allowed the sleeve cuffs of the dress to peek out.  The overall look here is really simple, but I was going for something a little more minimal this day, so I was really pleased with how it turned out.

Sometimes I find that dresses which work great on their own can be some of the most difficult pieces to style originally.  It feels like there’s only so many combinations of cardigans and belts I can come up with.  So I’m always really happy when inspiration strikes and I come up with something new.  I’d put together a look like this with one of my longer drapey cardigans before, but never my short one.

Dress: V Fish (via Why Not Boutique)
Cardigan: Anthropologie (via eBay)
Shoes: Merrell Brios
Watch: Fossil
Earrings: Gifted

There’s lots of different elements that influence my style.  Lately one of my favorite inspirations has been 60′s English and French styles.  I feel like the above outfit has a little bit of both, but it felt more British to me.  The dress actually is British, so that should count for something.

I’ve never actually been to England, but it’s one of those places that I’d really love to visit one day.  My grandfather was stationed there during WWII (in Bassingbourn, near London) so I’d especially love to visit the base he was at and the museum that’s there.

This beret always makes me happy when I wear it.  I finished knitting it while waiting for a cab at LaGuardia during my trip to NYC several years ago.  It always reminds me of how great that trip was.  Not to mention the fact that it’s cute and warm.

Dress: Boden (via eBay)
Cardigan: J. Crew (via eBay)
Tights: HUE
Boots: Keen Bern Baby Bern
Watch: Fossil
Necklace: Wendy Brandes Little Woolf

This is my, “I’m trying to smile even though I’m really cold” face

The key to days like today is lots and lots of layers.  I layered wool knee socks over tights.  I layered a slip, long sleeve tee, sleeveless dress and cashmere sweater for the rest.  And then coat and scarf after that.  Most Floridians, I’ve noticed, don’t get cold weather dressing.  I see people trying to get by with hoodies or cotton turtlenecks.  Everyone complains so much too.  But it’s really fantastic if you’re prepared for it, and it doesn’t have to be expensive if you search for good winter pieces year round.

At first I thought about belting the sweater, but the dress has such a strong pattern that I really wanted to let it shine.  By using the tie from the dress as a belt,  I brought the attention back to the beautiful pattern.

How do you layer for winter?  What’s your winter climate like?

Dress: Mlle Gabrielle (thrifted)
Sweater: J. Crew (via eBay)
Long sleeve tee: J. Crew Factory
Tights: HUE
Boots: Keen Bern Baby Bern
Watch: Fossil
Coat: Target (2008)
Scarf: Handknit by me

I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe New Years.  My boyfriend and I decided to stay home for this one,  so he had some beer while I had some Jam Jar, and we watched old episodes of 30 Rock and classic 60′s Batman.  It was the perfect, low key end to the year and a great way to welcome 2012.

Happy New Year!

Dress: Soprano (via Li da la)
Cardigan: J. Crew (via eBay)
Tights: HUE
Knee Socks: HUE
Boots: Keen Bern Baby Bern
Scarf: Boden
Bag: Angry, Young and Poor Bread Bag
Watch: Fossil Outlet
Earrings: JuneDesigns

Lots of bento boxes.  The beginning of 11 in 2011.  Growing out my hair.

February

Busyness.  First year teacher woes.  Birthday.

March

Thrifting.  Awesome cooking.

April

Bento special edition.  Awesome spring break time.

May

Lots of bentos and healthy recipes.

June

Summer goals.

July

Oceanside, California.  Part-time summer job.  Redecorating the studio.

August

Workout plans.  Finished sweater.  Discovering Paleo.

September

Back to style.

October

The secret files of a librarian.

November

Out of the style rut. Wardrobe inventory.

December:

Back to my old self.  Wardrobe gaps list.  Hair now long.  Still trying Paleo.  Awesome Christmas.

2011 was a busy and eventful year.  Here’s to a fantastic (and more stylish) 2012!

Top: Ann Taylor LOFT (thrifted)
Skirt: Forver 21 (via Revolve)
Sandals: Dansko Neve (via eBay)
Necklace: Express
Bangle: Vintage

I had a pretty awesome Christmas this year.  Lots and lots of family time (all within Tampa this year, yay!), lots of great food (turns out holidays are great for eating Paleo), lots of treats (not very Paleo) and lots of fantastic gifts.  I wore the above outfit all day on Christmas, which turned out to be perfect.  It’s really out of my usual comfort zone (midi peasant skirt, white top, heels) but I loved it.  The simplicity of basic neutrals with turquoise accessories looked nice without being overdressed or too casual.  The jersey skirt meant that I didn’t have extra discomfort after eating too many cookies.  And the wedge sandals dressed things up and weren’t super uncomfortable.

This is what my awesome boyfriend got me.  He had already bought the eBags packing cubes from Amazon for me (I’d been wanting these for years; I can’t wait to try them out next time I travel) and he wasn’t sure what else he should buy me for Christmas.  I suggested he try Anthropologie.  He went, found some presents for me, and told me that Anthro could be called the “Diana store” because he could have closed his eyes and pointed at anything there and I would have liked it

I’ve already been digging into the book he got me, and I absolutely love it.  The other present I was super excited about.  Carlo has a very sensitive sense of smell and most perfumes irritate him.  Thus I haven’t worn perfume since we’ve been together for the past five years.  But I was really missing wearing a scent.  Without me eve telling him to, he found a perfume at Anthro that didn’t irritate his senses and bought it for me.  And I love it!  It’s light, floral with just a hint of ocean breeze.  This will be a favorite for years to come.

Here’s some other random pics from the festivities:

 This is the stuff I got from family.

Carlo and Elvis on Christmas day

I got this ornament when I was a kid, and it’s still awesome

The last week before Christmas break, I challenged myself to wear red and green everyday without being tacky.  I was also battling a cold that had me slipping into pj’s and going to bed the second I got home everyday, so unfortunately, this outfit is the only one I had enough energy to capture.  Fortunately, it was my favorite, so it all evens out.

It’s not unusual to get compliments sometimes from people I work with.  This was one of those rare, wonderful outfits that garnered compliments from total strangers.  As I was leaving my dermatologist’s office, this cute little old lady stopped to tell me how much she loved my skirt.  At the grocery store, a clerk commented on how I must be dressed up for something special.  Thus, this skirt remains one of my all-time favorite second-hand finds.

Speaking of the dermatologist, I finally made myself go and find out what was making my lips peel and get irritated during the winter.  Turns out, lip balm addicts like myself have a habit of licking their lips a lot, and in the winter, it dries them out to the point where lip balm stings and does more harm than good.  My lips are better now thanks to some lotion my dermatologist gave me.  She recommended that I switch to lip stick or lip gloss during the winter, since you’re less likely to lick it off.  So here’s where I ask for your help: I’m a total lipstick noob.  I’ve always been a diehard balm user, and I think I own maybe four tubes of lipstick (which I got for free in Clinique gift sets).

So here’s my questions:

• How do I go about finding my perfect shade?
• What’s your favorite shade of lipstick?
• Do you use different shades of lipliner for different lipsticks, is there a one-shade-fits-all, or do you use it at all?

Tank: Target
Cardigan: J Crew (via eBay)
Skirt: Mix Noveau (via Revolve)
Shoes: Born Codder
Necklace: garage sale
Watch: Fossil outlet
Purse: Morelle Oyster

I’ve never been a big fan of full-on monochromatic looks, so this is about as close as I get.  This beautiful blue dress is one of my newest Boden pieces, snagged on eBay for a mere $50! (Boden dresses usually retail for over $100).  I had get several alterations done to get it perfect, but now it’s set to become one of my favorite pieces.  For this outfit, I buttoned up a cashmere cardigan over the dress, then took the sash and tied it obi-style over the cardi.  Boots and tights stayed neutral, and I added my bright orange watch for a pop of contrast.

Dress before alterations

As you can see in the picture above, the dress originally had a much longer hem (this seems to happen a lot with Boden dresses).  I got about 4″ hemmed off.  Also, the sleeves had a blousy elastic thing on the hems, which I can’t stand, so I had that taken out and replace with a regular hem, and I had them take-in the sleeves a bit too to make them slimmer.  Finally, the neckline was super low (another common occurrence with Boden).  My tailor took up the shoulders a bit, which naturally raises the neckline.

This dress is another example of why I truly believe that you need to customize everything.  It does require a slight investment to get things altered, but once you have an item that fits exactly the way that you want it to, you will love it more and thus wear it more and get more use out of it than if you left it without alterations.

Dress: Boden (via eBay)
Cardigan: Boden
Tights: HUE
Boots: Keen Bern Baby Bern (via Piperlime)
Watch: J. Crew & Timex