busy life

This is an apology post, as it's been over a week since I last put something up on the blog. If it makes a difference, I've had my reasons - I was sick all last weekend, culminating in my visit to the always-lovely Student Health Center on Monday, where I was tested for mono and strep (considering how much better I'm feeling now, I'm going to say they're negative, but it was pretty bad there for awhile). 

Dressing well wasn't exactly happening, as me getting out of bed was a task in itself. It was skinny jeans and a tshirt for a few days, but now that I'm home I plan to start being a real person and putting thought into what I wear again! But just to remind you all that I still exist, here are a few photos from when Nicole and I had our roommate date to the ballet last Friday:

Guess leather jacket; Zara dress; Forever 21 necklace; Coach bag; Old Navy flats

Sorry that you've already seen this outfit before, in light of my sickness I was in bed until right about 5 minutes before we left, then put on the first nice outfit I could think of (pet peeve: people who don't dress nicely for the theater, it's the worst right?)

We started with an extra-classy dinner at Chipotle (we were feeling like tacos, no judgement), then walked down the waterfront to the Kennedy Center where we saw a beautiful production of Snow White - with costumes designed by Jean Paul Gaultier, so basically it was magical! Then we walked down to Founding Farmers, a really cool restaurant near George Washington University, and got a late dessert with their "Mousse Bowl for Two." And by two, they meant approximately four (see photo of me looking defeated with the half-eaten bowl). 

The only sad part was that I was sick and couldn't stay up to watch a full movie afterward, but otherwise it was a lovely evening with my even-lovelier roommate :) 

Hope you're all having a great week, I'm glad to be back!

striped dresses

H&M dress; Old Navy dress; Forever 21 necklace

Me wearing a striped dress - real surprising right? Well, there's a funny story to go along with them today: so I was wearing the first one for a few hours this morning, when I went to the dining hall for breakfast and then stayed there through lunch to study. At one point, I got up to go to the bathroom. I looked at myself in the mirror and oh god - yes, yes you can see my pink and black polka-dot underwear. I frantically called Nicole and told her to come to Leo's with new underwear and/or another dress, preferably at that exact minute. Then I scurried back to a table to wait for her, getting absolutely no studying done until she came, despite my Russian midterm tomorrow (one of the reasons why this is a short post devoid of actual me-photos). Fun, right? Yet another one of the many, many times that I wonder why I don't have my own TV show.

On that note, I really should do that studying now! Good night all :)

another skirt and untucked shirt

Forever 21 necklace; Urban Outfitters tshirt; J. Crew Skirt; Frye boots

 

 As I've noted in the title, in general I seem to post only one sort of outfit on this blog - a small skirt, a pair of boots, and some sort of oversized top. And you know what guys, sometimes I wear pants! And I feel like I should try to show that side of my wardrobe as well - because you see, in addition to miniskirts, I also wear skinny jeans much too often.

So yesterday the weather people just gave up on telling us the weather. As in literally, my phone said "A high of 70, a low of 37, and there's a chance of rain" - how do you get dressed for that!? I was wearing this outfit sans tights for most of the day with my moccasins, had a brief jaunt out in my rainboots, and tossed my leather jacket over it all (in combination with the Fryes I looked a bit like a biker chick). 

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

black and red

James Perse tshirt; Vintage sequin vest; Forever 21 skirt; Frye boots

So what has probably been the busiest week of my life is finally over! I'm back in my room after performing at our campus's AIDS benefit concert (hence the red skirt and shiny vest) and watching a movie before going to bed without setting an alarm for the morning. Yes, I am pretty excited. And guess what? Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of me breaking my foot! Can you believe it's been that long? For those of you who haven't been reading my blog for long, go back into the archives of last spring and take a look at some of the outfit posts with my cast... it's amusing. 

But for now, the roommate and I are watching a movie! So good night all, and have a lovely weekend :)

simple stripes

Forever 21 necklace; H&M shirt; American Eagle cardigan; Gap jeans; Mercanti Fiorentini (from DSW) loafers

 So, to put it mildly, yesterday was a busy day - went to dinner at 5:30 and didn't get back to my room until 2:00 am. And the worst part is: Nicole and I haven't watched tv together for days. Considering my past three semesters of utter laziness, this is honestly kind of a traumatizing fact. 

I wasn't really feeling up to dressing myself this morning, so honestly I just threw this together in like 5 minutes with the usual formula - skinny jeans, flats, cardigan, jewelry... I suppose since I graduated from high school and the requisite pleated navy skirts, this has become my new "uniform" (add in an oversize button down and you have me in a nutshell). But as the weather appears to be improving - did I mention that it snowed this past weekend? It was amazing - I have some ideas for the rest of this week, we shall see...

I think it's the lack of sleep, but I really don't have anything else witty to say - so I suppose I will leave you all with a good night!

 

more hanger outfits

Forever 21 necklace; Kirkland cashmere sweater (thanks dad); J. Crew Skirt; Target boots

 So, I've discovered that when outfits are not dresses they are much harder to hang up and photograph in a non-awkward way - I'm sure you didn't get that from the above photo, right? I promise in real life my torso is much longer, since my skirt doesn't start where I hooked it to the hanger, a.k.a approximately where my shoulders should be. I'm really loving the deep greens in this outfit though, and the fun new  piece I picked up at Forever 21 over the break - I find that the few pieces of jewelry I own that don't come from my grandmothers are all ridiculous costume pieces from Forever 21. Not sure how these two tastes really go together (vintage chains, cameos, and... oversize rhinestones?) but I love them both. 

Today was a lovely day, once the whole class part of it was over - I still maintain that two hours of Russian on Fridays will be the death of me. But then I went out to a lovely pasta dinner with the girls, baked a funfetti cake, and watched The Devil Wears Prada. So many amazing clothes! Makes me wish it was actually that easy to get a job in the fashion industry, and that I would really have that many designer clothes if I ever happened to get said job... Ah well, such is life. Have a good night,

serendipity

So normally I don't do life-related posts (I generally just keep it to clothing) but since I failed at taking photos of my outfit for dinner last night, and it was a good outfit, you get to see it via random photos of me and all of my friends! We went to Serendipity as a late celebration of my roommate Nicole's birthday - so here you go!

loft button down

forever21 skirt

street market pendant

target boots

So when our friend Jess made the reservations, we were told that we had to wear pink, to fit in with the decor of the restaurant (which was absolutely adorable by the way - besides the dessert, it was the only thing I really liked about that restaurant, unfortunately). But then when we all met up, Nicole and I were the only ones in pink! And do you know how difficult it was for me to find a pink outfit? You are actually looking at just about everything pink I own.  Though I must say I like the juxtaposition of the red skirt and the pale pink blouse.

And here's an adorable group shot of (almost) everyone in front of the John Carroll statue at Georgetown - just ignore the giant dog stuffed animal.

 thegeorgetowndish.com

 And since I failed at taking photos of the interior myself, here is a picture of one of the rooms inside the restaurant - don't you love all the pretty lamps? The room we were in also had a chair hanging from the ceiling, and all of these pretty gilt  mirrors.

I have to say, the food wasn't my favorite, and they lost our reservation (and were completely unapologetic about it). But its an adorable place, the desserts are fantastic, and it was so lovely to be out with all of my friends - we rarely get all together like this, it's so hard to schedule time when everyone is free. As in, we literally made a doodle poll to see when this would work. So it's been a great weekend so far, hope you all agree!

new york, take 1

I'm in New York everyone! So excuse my lack of posting, but Fordham's internet doesn't like me - we've had to be quite creative to get me both Internet and my photos... Regardless, here is the first post of too many to come, just my outfit from last night when Beth and I went out to dinner and for my (second?) cupcake of the day...

topshop necklace

thrifted sweater

forever 21 skirt

h&m flats

banana republic trench (bottom photos) 

When I picked this sweater up while mom and I were in Minneapolis at "My Sister's Closet" she told me it would look ridiculous. And I said, no, I bet you that it will look awesome on... and it does! Can you get better than shoulderpads and sequins? Did I just say that? Regardless... I feel like it's a bit too crazy for the preppy world that is Georgetown, so I couldn't wait to pull it out in the craziness that is NYC. As I've seen, anything goes

Sorry for the blurriness! Such can be the issue of night photos. We're in Lincoln Center here, you can see the fountain that Beth made me climb on in the back left (I got in trouble, in case you're wondering. Thanks Beth). 

It's my trench coat! I feel like I vaguely referred to it a few months ago when I got it, saying that I would devote a post to its amazingness, and while I regret not doing that, I feel like it's finally time for it to be introduced. This coat alone makes all the trials of my work at Old Navy worthwhile. The good thing about working at Old Navy is that you get discounts at all their offshoots, including Banana Republic - yes please...

More posts to come, I'll show off the scenery, the food, the new purchases! Breaking the shopping ban = best decision ever. Have a lovely long weekend!

stripes... again

I'm sorry if you guys are getting bored of this dress! I feel like every time I wear it, the outfit post is basically the same. But it's so easy! It's the weekend, it's hot outside, I want to look put together - solution? Put on my striped dress. As simple as that.

old navy dress

heritage 1981 belt

forever 21 necklace

minnetonka moccasins

vintage raybans (courtesy of my friend Jen, of The Haute Road, thanks bud)

 These are actually from yesterday as today is Sunday, and I don't do cute on Sundays. As a fashion blogger am I obligated to look cute all days of the week? Probably... I mean, I don't look bad today, just in jean shorts, a loose button down and flip flops, but nothing special. Jen, my friend who gave me these fun sunglasses, is probably not happy to see me wearing this dress - she's waiting for me to decide that it's too short so that I'll give to her. And yes, I know, it's a bit short, but I love it so! The envelope neck, the comfy cotton, the loose fit, even the short hemline - kind of my ideal piece of clothing.

Love this necklace. As you may have noticed, I have a penchant for long pendants (alliteration anyone?) and piles of chains, but don't really do short necklaces, with the exception of the above beauty, and my lovely topshop bauble. The moral derived from the two of these? I will forgo long necklaces only for chunky, oversize short ones. Oh, and sad news - the belt pictured below is falling apart! I mean, not surprising, since it came with a cheap dress from Heritage (an offshoot of Forever 21). But still! I love the weaving of the "leather," and I'm seriously lacking in waist belts.

I feel like I've been rambling on in this post and have said nothing informative or even amusing. Sorry about that. Happens to the best of us. Exciting news though! I've been chosen to be one of the 8 or so Principles of Economics tutors! So basically everyone in my school (the School of Foreign Service), has to take both Principles of Macroeconomics and Microeconomics. And everyone dreads them. Basically the horror story of freshman year. So, to help all the poor freshman out, the Economics departments pays older students who did well in those courses to act as tutors! I had my interview last week and found out this weekend that I was chosen. I start Tuesday. Good to know that I succeeded in the basic courses of what will probably be my major, right? And with that fun story, I close this post. Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

pretty birds

Forgive me my failure to post these last few days. It's not like I was badly dressed and didn't want you all to see - I looked adorable, if I do say so myself. Problem was, it would get to 10:00 or so at night and I would think to myself "Did you get anyone to take pictures for you today Alison? No? Well..." And then I would attempt to take self-timer photos in the room, proceed to see the horrid fluorescent lighting, and decide that no one in their right mind should see them (though I am tempted to put up an attempt later in the week if I forget to take my daily photos again). But today I remembered! So here you go

forever 21 top

target skirt

born sandals

vintage necklace

 Well to be completely honest this is yesterday's outfit. Today I am in a much more basic tshirt and shorts combo, as is my Sunday (a.k.a. homework day) routine. Also part of my Sunday routine: Starbucks! Random thing to share, I just love it. Every Sunday morning I get up and bring all my books over to the Student Center, where I get some sort of muffin-esque pastry-thing and a coffee and spend a few hours in a comfy chair reading and people-watching. In case you were wondering I know you weren't.

For the first time my pendant is long enough that I can take a picture of it and not be snapping a picture of my chest! Nicole is always laughing about me taking the camera after our photoshoots, turning it around and taking awkward photos just for this purpose - oh all the inappropriate failures... Oh and if you look closely at this necklace you can see it's actually quite a disturbing scene! I think they're breaking someone's neck on the stage, can't really tell. I love when people compliment me on it and I can tell them what it really is. Simple joys in life, right?

I feel like I've already shared enough random stuff about my days, so I'll probably leave it at that! Except here is my activity of Friday night, namely night-monumenting! You can see another one of my outfits, in dark group-picture form:

(I was wearing a J. Crew cardigan, Martin & Osa tank, thrifted belt, Gap shorts, and Toms) Assuming you all have the day off tomorrow like I do, enjoy the long weekend!