Back home.

Two Fall trends that fit perfectly with my style: the long skirt, and the big coat.  I'm loving the longer-skirt trend that's in for Fall!  I can stay warm and ladylike and not look frumpy.  Love it!

Again, here are some completely unedited photos for your viewing pleasure (I hope, anyway), which were taken by my Daddy (who complained the whole time, hence the lack of photos) on my phone (hence the lack of quality) on a park path in my hometown right in my parents' backyard (hence the beauty of the trees). 

Two reasons this post is titled "Back home." 
First: because I'm back to more vintage-inspired style from the edgy look in my last post. 
Second: EXCITING NEWS!  The Hubs and I are moving back to my hometown at the end of this month!!! 

I think my hometown is really in my blood...my innate sense of style seems to match it.  That means that there will be many more and better places for photo ops...

I always say that my hometown is a trap: once you live there, you can't leave (for long, anyway).  It's too beautiful!  It's on the National Registry of Historic Places (or something like that anyway), and the people who live there all know it (little bit snooty), but I'm still in love with it.  I love to travel and experience new places, but I don't mind coming back home, either.  That's a very pleasant feeling.  :)

Coat: old || Sweater: old || Belt: Express || Collar: H&M || Necklace: old || Boots: thrifted GUESS || Beret and Skirt: Wal*Mart (feel free to judge)

All-Out EDGE---the day of Dance

 

Can y'all handle this little change of pace?
From your normally vintage-lover poster girl comes a taste of the extreme other side...the wild side.

 I haven't gone out clubbin' with my girls in awhile...but we heard about free cover and cheap drinks at a local club if you were to show up in an LBD.  IRRESISTIBLE.
Since the dress was pre-decided, the rest of the outfit needed to pack the punch.  
I bought new shoes for the occasion.  Quite the shoes, eh?  Inspiration for this outfit comes from Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj (I was thinking the theme song for these shoes is "Pound the Alarm"), and Anna Dello Russo.

My kicks are siiiiiiick!

Loving my Arm Party.

Edge isn't something you see from me a lot, but--as with anything--I stand by the old adage  

"GO BIG OR GO HOME," 

especially if it's something unusual.  

"There's nothing sexy like excess." 

--Anna Dello Russo--

Did my nails to match...you like?

I've got crazy nails, a fierce topknot, studs 'n spikes, dark eyeliner, and two-tone lips.  I'd say that qualifies as "excess."  What say you, ADR?

Anyway, the reason this post is subtitled "the day of Dance" is because I danced from 5:00PM until 1:00AM!  It was soooo much fun...

I used to go Swing dancing downtown twice a week and clubbing on the weekends, but when I got married to a non-dancer my own dancing streak kind of came to an end.
Luckily I can get my dancing fix now that my friend, Emilee (who has been featured on this blog before) is taking ballroom dance lessons!  On this illustrious day, she got me into her studio for an individual ballroom lesson, a group line dance lesson, and a dance party (and remember, all this was followed by going out clubbin').

Before I sign off, I want to share the following two photos of my girls and I us at the studio's dance party.  It was a Wizard of Oz theme.  Can you guess what our costumes are?

ANSWER: I represent...the Lullaby League!

ANSWER: Em is Glinda and
Piera (who also has been featured before) is the Witch of the East (lol)

You should've seen me Cha-Cha and Rumba in this makeshift tutu...it was poofing and flipping all over the place!  (Fear not: there were no wardrobe malfunctions.)  Phenomenal.

EDGY LOOK

Dress: Forever21 || Belt: Express || Arm Party/Rings: thrifted & gifted || Shoes: Paparazzi || Earrings: ShopKo

LULLABY LEAGUE COSTUME

Tank: old || Skirt: Forever21 || Petticoat: Hot Topic || Tights: thrifted || Shoes thrifted

the Recipe for Fall Pt.2

Subtitled: 

Down by the Riverside

These photos are ABSOTIVELY, POSOLUTELY, completely unedited.  They are RAW right from my camera's SD card.  And I adore them.

'Hey, this is a really gorgeous spot.'

 

'Let's set this bag down...'

'...and celebrate Fall by taking some photos!'

 

I'm totally in love with Fall this year. 
Our leaves are especially vibrant, something to do with our ludicrously hot Summer.

 

There it is: my oh-so-German schnozz, in all its glory.

Hat: thrifted || Scarf: Claire's || Shirt: H&M || Tank: H&M || Jeans: Jordache  || Belt: old || Boots: thrifted || Backpack: thrifted Louis Vuitton || Tote: Target

Thanks to all my lovely readers for stopping by!

Hope you love these photos as much as I do.

Enjoy Fall (or whatever season you're having now)!

the Recipe for Fall

The Recipe for Casual Fall Dressing 

(from the ground up): 

leather boots, 

denim, 

a light knit or button-up, 

leather jacket, 

scarf, 

and add a statement bag (to tip your casual pieces towards chic)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You'll be seeing a lot of this recipe on my blog this season.  But fear not: I'll always spice it up a little.  ;)  In fact, I've got a great look floating around in my head right now featuring absolutely NONE of the elements listed above (so I promise you won't be bored!).

Like my new "riding" boots? 

Hurray for the thrift store!

FAIR WARNING: You'll be seeing these beauties posted a lot this Fall/Winter.

 

This is a very casual outfit, and I'm semi-apologetic about that, but not really, 'cuz Fall is just so ridiculously pleasant this year that it's urging me to just...be.

 I love light knits and layering for Fall (almost as much as I love little breezy dresses for Summer...almost as much as I love colorful galoshes with skirts for Spring...almost as much as I love cozy sweater-dresses and tights for Winter...you get the picture).

Jacket: oldie but goodie || Scarf: gift || Sweater: old || Jeans: Target || Boots: thrifted || Bag: thrifted Louis Vuitton

As always, dear readers,  

THANK YOU  

from the bottom of my heart 

for stopping by!

Femenine Foodie

Found this food-patterned dress at Goodwill in the Halloween section.  :)  That makes me giggle... 

I fell in love with the bizarre pattern and the line of dainty buttons right away, and then--after a trip to the dressing room--I knew it was destined to come home with me: a tailor couldn't fit it to my figure any better!

I had been watching Paris When It Sizzles (starring Audrey Hepburn and William Holden) when I first found this dress, and putting it on made me feel as though I could walk right onto the set and look completely at home.  Of course, I'd have to have my hair done, first, but I'm completely inept in that category.  Anyway, the cut of the dress is very Audrey (dingdingding HUUUUGE selling point for yours truly), and the muted colors fit in with the Givenchy clothes Audrey sported during the film.

With the addition of some very Audrey kitten heels (she had big feet just like me!), and a bag in a truly bizarre shade of green (but it's an excellent quality bag), I'm ready to float down staircases with killer elegance.  (This dress totally billows out like a huge, pillowy cloud when you sweep down stairs!!)

Classic lines join the modern era with the addition of a fun pattern...

I actually woke up this morning intending "not to look cute."  Like, I didn't want to put any effort into my look that day.  But this outfit ended up being truly effortless!  It just...happened. 
It renews my hope that it really is simple to look chic if you have good pieces to work with.  I'll doggedly continue in my search to fill my closet with quality and timelessness.

 Dress: thrifted || Hat: Forever 21 || Belt: thrifted || Shoes: old || Bag: thrifted