Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Polka Dots and Stripes





Some pattern mixing today with a polka dotted dress and striped belt. I wasn't the biggest fan of this jacket when I first bought it. I purchased it mainly because I liked the matching high-waisted pencil skirt, and I need matching jackets for my pants and skirts to complete the "suit look" when I go court. Outside of court, I usually wear the pieces as separates, and I thought this jacket would get little use outside of court, but it's grown on me over time. I've been wearing it more this summer because it just seems to be the right color and cut to top off many different outfits.

When:
Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Where:
work

What:
Dress: Limited (thrifted)
Belt: Old Navy (thrifted)
Jacket: Old Navy
Navy Heels: Newport News
Navy Bag: ?? (thrifted)
Silver Hoop Earrings: gift from my parents
Necklace: vintage from my mother


What I Read This Month



Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri, 2008

Loved this book. Short stories by the author of The Namesake (a great movie) and Pulitzer Prize winning Interpreter of Maladies. Really great stories about real people and real relationships. "[E]xquisite prose, emotional widsom, and subtle renderings of the most intricate workings of the heart and mind." Okay, I finished this book early in August, so despite attending a recent book club meeting discussing it, I don't really remember it clearly enough to write a good description, though I did thoroughly enjoy it (I just recently purchased Interpreter of Maladies as a birthday gift for my boyfriend, and I gave my mother The Namesake for Christmas). Read the Amazon reviews.



The Gastronomical Me by MFK Fisher, 1943

A young girl, raised in rural California in the early 20th century, ventures to Europe with her first husband. Living in France, she experiences the local culture and learns about food. Eating is an art and a passion in France, something completely unfamiliar to this sheltered American girl. The Gastronomical Me tells the story of her emotional and physical journey into adulthood, learning to appreciate the sensuousness of food and the delicacies of a different culture, with the personal stories always starting from or relating back to her experiences with food. The author says it best herself in the foreward: "It seems to me that our three basic needs, for food and security and love, are so mixed and mingled and entwined that we cannot straightly think of one without the others. So it happens that when I write of hunger, I am really writing about love and the hunger for it, and warmth and the love of it and the hunger for it . . . and then the warmth and richness and fine reality of hunger satisfied . . . and it is all one."



Almost French by Sarah Turnbull, 2002

I enjoyed the book and its insider/outsider view of Parisian and French culture. American-born Australian-raised Sarah Turnbull relocates to Paris on a whim during her year-long journey through Europe in the mid-1990's, moving in with a Frenchman she's known for all of a few weeks. Her experiences attempting to meld into the French culture are detailed in this book. Overall, I liked her story, although there were a few occasions when I just wanted to say, "Get over yourself." Some differences between her and her boyfriend, her familiar culture and her boyfriend's culture, were blamed by the author on the drastic difference between French and Anglo/Australian culture, when such differences can easily exist between people of the same culture. Not every difficulty encountered in a new relationship or while living in a new location can be blamed on cultural differences between nations. If you can set some of these exaggerated assignments of blame aside, the author's experience of her relationship, her move between continents, and her learning curve to living in Paris are a fascinating read.



The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte, 1848

An engaging novel about love, lust and discreet improprieties in 1820's England. Young romantic Helen enters a marriage with a charming reprobrate. Unsurprisingly, his dissipation and verbal abuse of her and their infant child rises to an unsufferable level, at which point she flees to a remote rural unnamed shire, where local townfolk invent poisonous gossip about her as a result of her refusal to divulge every detail about her past life. The lesser know sister of Charlotte Bronte (Jane Eyre) and Emily Bronte (Wuthering Heights), Anne Bronte is an enchanting storyteller and her viewpoints in this 19th century novel square quite easily with modern-day feminist thinking on a number of subjects.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Red, White and Navy









When:
Friday, August 27, 2010

Where:
work, rehearsal

What:
Camisole: ?? (thrifted)
Pants: H&M
Jacket: from JC Penney
Sandals: Lifestride
Bag: Liz Claiborne (thrifted)
Small Gold Hoop Earrings: gift from my parents
Panda Coin Ring: gift from my parents (remember when those were popular in the 90's?)
Locket: vintage from my grandmother


Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Birthday Dinner, redux







My boyfriend's birthday was yesterday. Today, my boyfriend's father came over to my boyfriend's house and cooked him dinner: seafood soup and fish, with white rice and a tasty rich vegetable sauce. When we walked in, the place smelled like a seafood restaurant. Yum!

We were joined at dinner by my boyfriend's sister and her kids, as well as some friends of the family. It was a fun evening.

My outfit today is the basic boring office-worker business casual: solid colored top and black pants. Completely lacking imagination. The top is new. It reminds me of red lace top that I used to have, before the fabric became worn out from too many machine washings.

When:
Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Where:
work, birthday dinner at my boyfriend's house

What:
Lace Top: ?? (thrifted)
Pants: H&M (thrifted)
Sandals: Etienne Aigner
Earrings: gift from my parents

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Birthday Dinner





Today is my boyfriend's birthday. I took him out to dinner at Henri, the new restaurant that just opened up next to the Gage on Michigan Avenue.

When:
Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Where:
work, birthday dinner at Henri

What:
Dress: Delia*s (thrifted)
Earrings: gift from my parents
Sweater: Old Navy (thrifted)
Sandals: Lifestride
Drink: Rio Negro


Thanks to my boyfriend for today's lovely pictures.

I didn't get any head-to-toe pictures today, so here's a full-length shot from the last time I wore this dress:


Monday, August 23, 2010

Tie Dye









When:
Sunday, August 22, 2010 & Monday, August 23, 2010

Where:
laundry, shopping, errands, just hanging out

What:
Tie Dyed Tank: Old Navy (thrifted)
Skirt: ?? (I've had it for a while)
Sandals: Lifestride

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Saturday







I started the day with my hair down and curled, but it didn't take long for me to clip it up in my newest favorite black bow clip. Earrings were practically invisible with my curly hair down, but as soon as I pulled it up, I added some shoulder-dusters.

I had planned to attended a reunion barbeque for a theater group that I've done some shows with. Unfortunately, the barbeque was pretty far from my house (a 35 minute drive) and I was having trouble with my car. My boyfriend was out of town so I couldn't borrow his car. A trip via CTA would have taken close to 2 hours with a transfer in an iffy neighborhood, which I just wasn't up for, especially since I hadn't slept well the night before.

So I ended up spending the day running a few errands, doing a bit of shopping, and lounging around my neighborhood.

When:
Saturday, August 21, 2010

Where:
hanging out in my neighborhood

What:
Top: ?? (thrifted)
Skirt: from a little shop in Vancouver, $5
Earrings: from a street vendor in Vancouver
Bow Hair Clip: mine since the late 1980's or early 1990's
Sandals: Etienne Aigner
Bag: ?? (thrifted)


Mirror shot:

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Thursday











I really like the cut and draping of this dress when I'm standing still, and I LOVE how the dress moves as I walk and turn and move.

When:
Thursday, August 19, 2010

Where:
work, theater to see Billy Elliot

What:
Vintage Dress: Second Skin Vintage on Etsy
Sandals: Lifestride
Earrings: World Market
Belt: New York & Co.
Bow Hair Clip: mine since the late 1980's or early 1990's
Bag: ?? (thrifted)


Friday, August 13, 2010

Friday









When:
Friday, August 13, 2010

Where:
work, rehearsal

What:
Jacket: Old Navy
Cami: ?? (thrifted)
Skirt: Trina Turk (thrifted)
Shoes: Franco Sarto (thrifted)
Earrings: gifts from my grandmother and parents
Locket: vintage from my grandmother




View from the Law Library in the Daley Center:

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Book Stores









I went to Andersonville last night for a meeting, but after I got there I found out the meeting was NEXT Wednesday, not tonight. I wandered around the farmer's market a bit and stopped in Women & Children First, where I picked up this tank top. I'm a bit of a sucker for fun graphic tees and I like supporting local book stores. Admittedly, I prefer getting my books free from the library, and I love stores like Borders for their selection of books, magazines and the cafes where you can sit and read everything without buying (although I do usually purchase an espresso drink).

I also really enjoy local bookstores too, and I wish they could co-exist, big and small, rather than the larger stores putting the small local ones out of business. So I try to support my favorite local bookstores like Women & Children First in Andersonville, Powell's in Hyde Park (I've never been to the Lincoln Park location), and The Book Table in Oak Park.


When:
Thursday, August 12, 2010

Where:
work, board meeting

What:
Pale Purple Blouse: Younique from J.C. Penney (I think) years ago; I bought it for the brunch the day after my wedding (I'm divorced now)
Tank: Women & Children First
Bra peeking out: Chantelle (a recent purchase on discount at Nordstrom Rack, and I love it!)
Skirt: Ann Taylor LOFT (on clearance for ~$3.80)
Sandals: Etienne Aigner
Celtic Cross Necklace: from St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London
Crystal Earrings: from a small crystal shop in Northern Virginia (I wore these for my wedding, almost 11 years ago.)


Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Wednesday







Wow, was it hot today!

When:
Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Where:
work including court, trip to Andersonville

What:
Suit Jacket & Pants: H&M
Top: Wet Seal
Nude Cami: Wet Seal
Shoes: Etienne Aigner (thrifted)
Necklaces: turquoise was a gift from my parents, brown ones are vintage from my grantmother
Earrings: ?? (I've probably had them for about 15 years)
Bracelets: the wooden beads are from Kohl's, wooden bangle vintage from my mom, other bangle gift from Sabrina
Ring: Forever XXI


What I Was Wearing Last August

Some of my favorites from this time last year...