grandma's vest

Old Navy button down; Vest knitted by Grandma; Levis jeans; Vintage necklace; Nordstrom boots

 Once again, oh so long since I last posted. But don't you love my vest? My grandma knitted it for me a few years ago - she said for Christmas that she'd knit us each one thing and let us pick a piece from the catalog. I of course asked for the men's vest. I like oversized knits, whats new.

So, fun stories you've all missed since I last posted. Yesterday morning I got a rude wake-up call at about 5 am when my building's fire alarm went off. I guess its the special alarm to make sure everyone wakes up, but it pretty much just sounded like a foghorn. I literally fell out of bed I was so startled, and then I was just so freaked out that I couldn't find my glasses and didn't really think the whole middle-of-the-night-in-February thing through, so I just put on flip flops to go with the shorts I'd been sleeping in. Walked outside, it was 10 degrees. There was snow on the ground. Let's just say it was interesting.

 

Why am I still awake? After waking up with a serious twinge in my throat this morning I've decided that I need to get more sleep this week. Unfortunately for me Economic Statistics exists, so that may happen.  Good night!

shades of gray

Vintage button down; Victoria's Secret tshirt; Vintage brooch (pinned to chain); J. Crew skirt; Gap boots

So in reference to the title of the post, when commenting on my outfit today Nicole said that I looked good, "and all the shades of gray on you seem to complement each other well" - a.k.a. pretty much how you would describe my entire wardrobe (if you add in a couple "pops" of navy blue or forest green).

Can I just say that I can't wait for spring break? School can be just oh so tiring, so if it could just be three weeks from tomorrow and I could be in Palm Springs, that would be great. Well, we can have a little pit stop at next weekend, when my friend Beth is coming to visit me! I'm using her visit as an excuse to get out into the city and do all the things I want to do but never seem to be able to... Anyways, Nicole and I are watching Gilmore Girls and I can't seem to make myself focus, so good night!

last night home...

Sooo these photos for some reason managed to be both seriously unattractive and quite blurry, making it pretty much impossible for me to put together a good post (not to fault my mother's photo-taking skills) - so I apologize in advance for what is coming. However, I think my outfit is quite adorable, if I do say so myself (from what you can see of it that is)

vintage blouse

street fair pendant

gap jeans

nordstrom boots

I still have yet to find what's wrong with this blouse! Every time I put it on I remember the "$8, as is" tag, but it seems just perfect to me - if it means I get it for cheaper, I'll take it

And here is a lovely picture of me in my grandmother's old hat - it was just lying around in the kitchen so I put it on for some carol-singing :) Don't I just look adorable? (And sidenote: notice that gorgeous tree in the background? Picked out by yours truly, thank you very much)

And last but not least, what you always what for in my posts - amusing life anecodote! Just pretend you care please? My family did the Advent candle lighting this morning at church, and after the service this lady that none of us had ever met before came up and asked if we wanted a picture together - apparently we all looked so perfect, she wanted to know if we coordinated outfits! It was very sweet and made me happy, funny though that anyone thought our family was organized to plan outfits, let alone get out the door on time... (Oh and as another sidenote,  Nicole has been expressing her discontent over the lack of funny anecdotes containing her in my posts - does this count as an anecdote? I think so. You're welcome roomie)

And now I have to go pack, as I'm leaving at the crack of dawn tomorrow! 5:45am, can anyone say coffee? I'm hoping if I really concentrate I can actually get on my flight this time. Have a good night, hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving break!

vest

It's Friday! I've survived the last full week of school left before Thanksgiving. There are only 3 classes between me and Minnesota.  I can do this.

 old navy button down

gap vest

target skirt

aldo boots

So, I wore this outfit all day today sans jacket (if you don't speak French, that means without) - I think I was under the impression that it was going to be warmer? Because although it was a lovely fall day, it wasn't exactly thin-cotton-button-down weather by any means. Oh well, it was a perfect outfit to show of my adorable vest! 

And isn't this vest adorable? I love the little leather-covered buttons, the wooly texture and the subtle little print - plus, you can't really see it in the photos, but the back is silk, with a little tie that can make it more form-fitting if you so desire (because we know how much I like form-fitting tops? Oh wait, I can't remember the last time I work a form-fitting top if it wasn't covered by a grandpa sweater... Maybe I should branch out?)

 

 Guess what? I get to go home for Thanksgiving about 36 hours earlier than planned! I am beyond excited - my parents were able to find a good deal for me to fly home Tuesday instead of Wednesday night. Literally dying now I can't wait.... 

Ok. That rant got a little intense. Regardless, hope you all have fun plans for the weekend, have a lovely Friday night!

equestrian

So these photos are from a while back - I think I wore this Monday? - but I insisted on taking photos because I'm really a fan of my new top! As Jenny said when we were in J. Crew and I was buying this - "How is it that both you and your mom can just walk into a store and find that one piece that there's only one left of, AND is on sale, AND is perfect on you? Maybe I just don't have enough practice shopping...." I mean, as I've said in the past, I only hope I can inherit some of my mom's shopping ninja skills. So here you go:

jcrew top and pants

vintage necklace

star ling boots

 Very equestrian, right? So mom got me these minnie pants (one of my two favorite types of pants you know - minnies and gap legging jeans) last Christmas and I hadn't worn them until now! I honestly have no idea, since they are so comfortable, and the khaki color is adorable. One problem I think is that when I'm not wearing boots/some sort of shoes with them, they kind of blend in with my legs and I look like I'm not wearing pants? Oh well, they're adorable anyways.

I'm beating this shoes up more and more. But I have to say, I like them more because of it! Do you guys ever feel like that, like the more worn an item is, the more special it feels?

First basketball game of the season today! As soon as I'm done writing this post (which should be soon since I'm going to make everyone late to breakfast...) I'll get all dressed up in blue and gray and we'll all go scream our lungs out and go crazy at the Verizon Center! Hope the team is good this year, fingers crossed... well, I hope you are all having a good weekend so far :)

new sweaterdress

Apparently on my arrival at the dinner table this evening, my friend Jess said to Nicole "Alison's dress looks like it's too big for her," to which Nicole replied - "she probably bought it too big. Why do you think her entire wardrobe is oversized?" She knows me too well. I mean, the reason I got this dress in a large was because that was all that was left, and I liked the look of it belted - but to be honest, would I really have gone for a different size had it been available? 

vintage necklace - one of the newest sent to me by Grandma :)

madewell dress

jcrew belt

star ling boots 

 So the necklace, dress, and belt are from my mom's visit to me - we may have spent a bit of time shopping? It was all on sale though, don't worry, and in case you wondering, J. Crew's student discount applies to sale items now. Pretty exciting, I know.

Well, I would say these boots are sufficiently broken in scuffed now. And I'm in love with this necklace! You can't tell in the picture, but it has a little bow and flower decorations on it, AND it opens and closes - a.k.a. I'm obsessed. 

Also, note the slit on the side of this dress? Had I bought it in a small, I most definitely would not have been able to wear it as a stand-alone dress - and we all know how I feel about tunics (and in case you don't know - I hate them). 

Sorry for the various sizes of these photos and for the super messy lovely background - they were just taken about 20 minutes ago by my roommate after I got back from a cappella. I just didn't want to not show (double-negative? why yes) this new dress, and showing it on a hanger just wasn't as fun. So there you go. My throat hurts, and I still have homework yet to do tonight, so that is all for me! Hope you had a lovely Tuesday :)

sorry I fail at blogging

 I know, I know - its been an entire week since I last put up a post! It's just been so crazy, what with my mom visiting last week (which was so nice, just what I needed to rejuvenate me for these last few weeks before Thanksgiving break) and it being Halloween weekend... But now that I'm back, I'm making a resolution: I will be a better blogger (kind of vaguely defined resolution I know - but it will happen)

 target sweater

h&m cardigan

street fair pendant

jcrew skirt

gap leggings

aldo boots

coach bookbag

So I've decided that I shouldn't be allowed to choose my outfits the  mornings Nicole gets up after me - it's dark, I'm tired, and I can't really be responsible for what I come up with. I mean yes, I look cute now, but this is only after I came back to my room post-Econ and realized that there was some work to be done (before what was on top was worn with ripped jeans and moccasins - cute pieces, but not right for this particular outfit).

Updates on these, which you've seen way too much:

1) I wear this necklace all the time

2) Boots are still falling apart, still pretty stressed out at the prospect

3) You actually have never seen these legging before (as I don't normally wear leggings in outfit posts, as a good fashion blogger) but they are the comfiest things ever. I tell you, Gap Body makes a quality pair of leggings.

So my face looks kind of weird in this picture, but I liked how it was movement-ey but not blurry - why do I attempt to explain my thought processes?

Happy Halloween everyone! It's weird, having Halloween on a Monday, right? I actually forgot until a friend reminded me... apparently in the real world trick-or-treating and other activities and such are still happening, but in college Halloween is basically the weekend, when everyone dresses up (I was Dorothy, in case you were wondering)

Ok, now I need to go do some work before Nicole and I watch a Halloween movie! Halloweentown, to be more exact - I don't do well with actual horror movies... But guess what you can all look forward to from me as a blogger? Semi-regular posting! Get ready for it...

big fuzzy scarf

Sorry for once again failing at posting on weekends! I worked Friday, Saturday and, you guessed it, Sunday too - awesome Homecoming, right? The good news is I just quit! I mean, I am most definitely going to miss all the nice people I met and being around clothes all the time, but it was honestly going to be the death of me...

loft button down

h&m scarf

old navy pants (yes, they were only 97 cents. and yes, I am going to say that every time I post them)

coach bookbag

frye boots

various rings

bracelet was a present from Beth (originally jewelmint I believe?)

 So when I suggested I post here I was thinking how I wanted a different setting, and didn't really consider the golf cart in the background - sorry about that? (Also, sidenote: I've been really bitter about all the golf carts on campus ever since I was crippled and didn't get one. Mark my words one of these days I will take one on a joyride as revenge...) Ignoring my insanity Regardless, really like the colors of this outfit! I've worn the blouse and pants together, but throwing on the burgundy scarf and the black boots really brings it into fall I think. And the weather in Georgetown today was gorgeous! Yay for fall.

Ewwww. Just noticed in the close-up photo that this scarf is a bit prone to dust-collecting. Also it leaves red fuzzies on everything. But I still wear it! It's just so fluffy and the perfect fall color. 

My mom comes into town on Wednesday! I can't wait to see her, it's been wayyyy too long since I last saw my family - and I don't even get to see the rest of them until Thanksgiving! The difficulties of going away to school... Now I need to do some homework, and then actually get some sleep tonight - apparently chai lattes keep me awake at night? Not really what I needed, to be honest. But guess what? We all survived Monday! Have a good night :)

common room outfit post?

Upon seeing one of the photos she took for me in our quick little photo shoot tonight (literally taken like 10 minutes ago and shot in about, oh 1 minute) Nicole said, "You should totally make that your profile picture!" To which I replied - "Except... it's me posing in the common room." And that would make my life look sad... Fun story, right? Ok, on to today's outfit, which I quite liked:

urban outfitters cardigan and dress

street fair necklace

target boots

 I got this dress while I was home last fall due to my lovely foot injury - sidenote, being in the Mall of America on a foot scooter? Very interesting experience. Anyways, you can't tell in the photos, but the dress is quite fuzzy, and therefore inappropriate for the lovely spring weather I was going to return to. So I left it at home, to be brought back to school this fall. And here it is! Slightly shorter than I remember, to be honest... And it was quite windy today. There were some sketchy moments.

Yay for one of the pretty things I got in New York! This was $3 at the random street fair Beth and I walked through for a bit, and I've been wearing it wayyyy to much lately. But it just pulls everything together in that indescribable but perfect way! You know what I mean? Probably I just sound crazy, but what's new.

And finally I get to wear my suede boots again! Darn these rainy East Coast falls, they make dressing quite a hassle. Not only can I not wear my suede boots without obsessively checking the weather forecast, but I also have to plan my outfits around the ability to pair them with my green rainboots, or how they will hold up getting wet etc. Complain, complain, complain. I'm done now.

On another note, I'm working a crazy amount this weekend, once again. And it's homecoming weekend! Might be starting to rethink this whole "I want a job so that I can have extra spending shopping money" thing. We shall see. But now I'm going to bed, get some sleep before my Russian midterm tomorrow - wish me luck! Hope you all had a lovely weekend :)