frank ocean for band of outsiders

i always look forward to the band of outsiders campaigns (the michelle williams one was my favorite). frank ocean is the celebrity of choice for their latest, and i'd say it's a match made in heaven.

all photos via band of outsiders

dream outfit

hey, look! i made a collage. filled with beautiful pieces that, for the most part, are out of my price range.

 

shirt (madewell), hat (acne), jacket (boy by band of outsiders), glasses (karen walker), nail polish (butter london), pants (rag and bone), boots (madewell)

kid at heart

i'm only slightly embarrassed to admit that i shop in the kids' section at j.crew (i just bought this flannel). the prices are always a bit lower and there's a seemingly endless selection of pink and polka dot items. what can i say? i guess i'm still a kid at heart.

>> 1, 2, 3, 4 <<

falconwright

these falconwright clutches are too cute. how on earth am i supposed to choose just one?

>> 1 2 3 4 <<

portland undressed

join eyes + edge and pino portland as they welcome author elizabeth cline to discuss the future of sustainable fashion in portland! tickets will only be on sale for a little while longer -- purchase them here.

tuesday, 9/4/12 at 7pm

the cleaners at the ace hotel

403 sw 10th ave, portland or

for more additional information about this special event, please visit:

https://www.facebook.com/events/261451670636814/

http://overdressedthebook.com/

http://thegoodcloset.tumblr.com/

spring break

i'm officially on spring break! i still have to work, so there are no tropical vacations in store for me. actually, the weather here is far from tropical, but that isn't stopping me from contemplating my next purchase.

i'm in the market for a new swimsuit. i'm not sure if i'm just fully embracing my inner-grandma, or if the ones available right now are so cute that they're erasing the terrifying speedo memories from my childhood, but i'm considering a one-piece. the ones currently tempting me (below) are all from j.crew.

images via 1, 2, 3, 4

neon + tan

currently loving the combination of pink neon and tan. the addition of stripes doesn't hurt either.

 

{clutch, shirt, sandals}

bensimon

when i recently found these bensimon sneakers via madewell, nostalgia got the best of me and i snatched them right up. despite being a bit unattractive, they were everywhere when i traveled through europe, and now i know why: they are so comfortable! it took me five years, but i finally have my own pair of these little french tennis shoes. now i just need to take another trip so i can properly break them in...

scalloped

while browsing pinterest lately, i realized i'm very drawn to items with scalloped edges.

 

images via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

early christmas gift

an early christmas gift came from nordstrom yesterday! i've been keeping my eyes open for a slightly more feminine version of clarks desert boots and i finally found them (on sale) so i treated myself. they will be perfect to wear with tights and a dress or with jeans and a big cozy sweater. i'm smitten.

chartreuse

i was pretty ecstatic yesterday when i saw a color spotlight on chartreuse. my favorite color that has always been the object of ridicule (ew! you're painting your room pea soup green?) was quoted as being "hot right now". perhaps chartreuse is finally gaining the respect it deserves! head on over to apartment therapy to check it out.

images via 1, 2, 3, 4

ombre

last week i decided to rethink a trend, but one trend i'm still faithful to is ombre. the fading from dark to light is such a simple concept, but it always looks so beautiful on everything. i desperately want to apply the technique to my hair, but i'm too much of a wimp to go through with the bleaching part.

images via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

rethinking a trend

when it comes to this year's trends in fashion and design, i have almost no qualms. polka dots, stripes, ombre, they're all wonderful. one trend that i will also admit to loving is the native american or southwestern trend. this is mainly because i grew up surrounded by traditional native american designs and artwork, an aesthetic my father is very partial to. but i am not native american, and i have no concept of the struggles faced by native americans to preserve their culture and have it remain sacred. through my studies of native american college students in my graduate work, i have gained more of an understanding of the challenges these students face on a daily basis. i can't imagine their frustration when they see non-native american students wearing shirts with a giant dream catcher printed across them and fringed at the bottom.

this article, in particular, is so powerful. i'm going to make a conscious effort from now on to rethink this trend. though i find the designs beautiful, i no longer want to purchase items that lose that beauty and authenticity by exploiting native american culture.

not just for summer camp

when i think of woven friendship bracelets, two words come to mind: summer camp. buying the different colors of string used to be the highlight of my visits to the camp store. afterward, i'd sit around with my friends for hours and churn out bracelet after bracelet.

so imagine my surprise when i started to see these colorful blasts from past on the wrists of models in fashion editorials! soon after, retail stores began selling them (for a rip-off price), so i decided to make my own. the little summer camper in me squealed with delight as i found myself in a craft store buying string once again. i'm not sure how these bracelets made their way back to being relevant, but i'm sure glad they did. 

bill cunningham new york

i'm off to class tonight! last spring, i scheduled my two courses for this term to be back-to-back, with the idea that it would be best to just dedicate one day a week to class. but now that i've been on summer vacation for almost four months, i'm slightly regretting that decision. here's hoping that i can stay awake and focused for both...

i did take the day off from work today and was delighted to see that bill cunningham new york is now on netflix. it chronicles the life of new york times photographer bill cunningham and his uncanny ability to capture fashion through the years. he revolutionized the whole concept of street style! if you have netflix, i highly recommend this documentary.

alexa chung for madewell

alexa chung is one of my top fashion idols. i am always envious of her outfits and look to her for inspiration when building my own wardrobe. for the second time, alexa has teamed up with another love of mine (madewell), and the result of this genius collaboration is a truly lust-worthy collection.

images via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

polka dots

polka dots are in this fall, and i couldn't be happier. i love the classic, retro feel that they add to any garment. i've already invested in a polka dot umbrella, scarf, blouse + dress, but i think i'll let myself go a bit crazy with this trend and get as many polka dotted items as possible.

 

 

images via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9