I love this cardigan. A couple of the seams need reinforcing and there's a small stain on the back of the left sleeve, but it has a cool cardigan, fits perfect, and is one of the softest things I own. I also bought it after a rather bad morning and was debating not getting it because "would I really wear it?" and "did I really need it?" but ultimately I decided to "treat myself" since I was feeling so poorly. I have worn it often since buying it--enough for a remix post. When you find something you like--you make room for it. When you crack the spine of a novel you really enjoy you allow it to absorb you like a sponge; you might forsake meals or evenings out in exchange of a few stolen hours tucked into bed with your nose between its pages. When you find someone you like you shift your schedule to mirror theirs whenever possible, neglecting other friends and eating Chinese food once a week because of how much they love lo mein. It can be the same with clothes. Instead of seeking supposed basics we are advised to purchase and clutter our closets with, we could instead try to find articles of clothing we really enjoy: things that make us feel powerful or stylish or merely comfortable. Because whether it seems like a basic piece you can wear often or not, when you love wearing something and the way it makes you feel when it is on--you'll find a way to wear it often. Like this dress--you wouldn't think a dress featuring a growling panther across the chest is particularily wearable but I've worn it more times than I care to count.

I got this classic sailor dress from Modcloth about a year ago and have been wearing it regularly ever since. It's a thick, sweater-like material which makes it perfect for fall and winter outfits. It's also a different silhouette than I usually wear--one that more closely fits to the body, so it's a nice change from my typical style. Dresses like this are so classic too, I feel as if it will never go out of style and I'll be able to wear it for many years to come.

This outfit is a bit simpler, almost too matchy for what I like to photograph and post. As I've mentioned before, there's always a couple of outfits in a week that don't get documented, sometimes they're too lazy and sometimes I just don't find the time or right conditions to get pictures. Anyway, I'm at my parents soaking up the last few minutes of the holidays and times when I get out of my pajamas seem to call for simple outfits; cozy knits and comfy flats, no makeup and glasses, etc...

Timo Weiland Pre-Fall 2013 is the star pupil--you know that annoying girl who sets the curve. She's always on time or a little early with 3 sharpened pencils and a pen (just in case), her book open to last night's reading, and her notebook prepped for the lecture ahead. She doesn't raise her hand the instant the teacher asks a question, but you can tell from her deliberately blank face that she knows the answer every time. You suspect she has no life outside of class because you never run into her at parties and when you do see her in the campus cafe she always has her notebook or a novel in hand. Still there's something about her prim blouses buttoned to the neck, mini skirts with loafers, and undone hair that you can't help but admire. She has a look. But most of the time you think you just need to take her out and get her plastered just to see one of those buttons come undone. 

Although the projector used for these (and past images) is only borrowed, you certainly haven't seen the last of its use. One of the things that keeps me engaged in blogging is the excuse to experiment with photography. There's so much room for improvement with my camera-work, but even as an amateur there's fun things to play around with on a daily basis. The creative potential of projected images is making me very inspired to take photographs--what if I could find a small completely bare room and project a scene into it? What if I could bring the projector outside and light up a snowy day? For this outfit post I tried to play around with color; intentionally choosing a black and white image to contrast against my favorite red dress. I'm still learning how to work with body positioning and the shadows the projector causes, but I like the way these images turned out.

I was reluctant to leave my house this day (these pictures are from about a week ago). The weather was dreary, my mood was worse, but I decided to forge ahead. I got dressed, answered a dozen dull but necessary e-mails, paid bills, ran errands and on my drive back decided to stop at this lake. It had been raining and the path was muddy so I switched from my flats to the wellies I keep in the back of my car and set off. The river lies below a bit of a hill, so the lake with its delicate layer of fog was revealed to me all at once when I reached the top. It was lovely and made me quite glad I hadn't wasted my day away.

These photos were taken a couple of weeks ago with the help of my friend Jon, but I thought they were too lovely and decided to save them for Christmas. Anyone who follows my Instagram knows I was in a snowflake craze for awhile there (I cut more than 80!) and a couple dozen or so are still hanging from my bedroom ceiling now. Anyway, I hope everyone is able to be with their loved ones today. Merry Christmas!

It's A Wonderful Life might be one of the most powerful Christmas movies, but White Christmas is definitely a quintessential movie for the season. I can't recall a year I didn't watch this movie with my family (and singing along with my sister during the "Sister" song...) and while it hasn't aged as well as some childhood favorites, there's still something about this musical. Really it is the musical numbers that redeem the simple plot and Bing Crosby's voice really shines in tunes that are familiar even to people who haven't viewed the movie before. The story follows two former soldiers who turned entertainers who follow sisters Betty and Judy to Vermont in hopes of snow and romance, but end up struggling to find either. Still it's Christmas and good intentions lead to misunderstandings, but eventually things work themselves out and finish with an over-the-top stage performance.

My clothes are becoming closer and closer to being literal armour or weapons against the world. This belt might actually be able to inflict some serious damage on someone, but of course its real power lies in the visual message--it needs no actual demonstration of violence to have impact. Because the clothes we cover ourselves in do impact the way the world views us and also gives us strength to face the world. Bill Cunningham put it most eloquently, "fashion is the armour to survive the reality of everyday life. I don’t think you could do away with it. It would be like doing away with civilization." And as much as I tend to have a sweet face or penchant for full skirts I have a number of prickly bits that some studs and spikes represent quite accurately.