Back To School + Wade and Belle

______Here's another lovely pair of tights sent to me from Wade and Belle: these, an opaque black that once again weren't painfully tight but still stayed up all day long. Their motto is literally "Not Too Tights" which is the greatest because, hey, guess what, they're not lying. You could down an entire can of peas (or beans, or sliced potatoes, or a whole chicken because that's actually a thing--an entire canned chicken--which is unsettling) and still have enough wiggle room for dessert. Dessert is very important, my friends.




______I can already tell this semester is going to be a hectic one, what with teaching two classes, taking an English Philosophy class where I read and write a response to a new book ever week, and all while constantly trying to better my work. The moments where I have free time (that are also tranquil in the sense that I am not worrying about anything) are rare, but I savor them more than ever now. That's not to say I don't enjoy how overstuffed my days are, because I definitely do love having something to keep my time slots full; it just seems that graduate school is almost over even though I still have two years left, and savoring it as it zooms by is a nearly impossible task...



Top: Charlotte Russe
Skirt: similar
Tights: c/o Wade and Belle
Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell
Choker: Nasty Gal (similar)
Earrings: Charming Charlie
Rings and bracelet: all c/o BornPretty

Twist and Shout

______I can't tell you how many times I go out in these darling little Jeffrey Campbell oxfords and get called out by people telling me how cute they are.  If I ever die, it's not going to be because I went down the wrong creepy alleyway at the wrong time; it's going to be because some zealous literature fanatic wants my oxfords to be the final addition to her Gatsby shrine.

______Speaking of, have any of you seen The Great Gatsby yet?  I was rather impressed by Leonardo DiCaprio's acting (and timeless good looks), the striking wardrobe choices, and the set design.  It was visually pleasing, fer sure.  The Valley of the Ashes was exactly on par with how I visualized it in the book--a soot-covered wasteland with that all-seeing, ominous T.J. Eckleberg sign looming in the distance.  At first, the music was a little odd to me, but I suppose it parallels with the chaos and confusion that the roaring 1920s realm presented, the chaos kindled by alcohol and social statuses and the impossibility of reaching the American Dream.  I'll stop trying to sound like I know what I'm talking about, because I totally don't, and spare you a review.





______Now that it's finally beginning to feel like summer, I've been able to do things I'm not usually able to do during college, such as reading for fun--and man, I totally forgot how splendid it is to read something of your own accord.  However, I've been guilty of reaching for a pen and noting repeating elements and themes, along with underlining quotes that reverberate with me.  My mom suggested I read an urban fantasy series by Karen Marie Moning (beginning with Darkfever), and I tore through the first two books of the series in just two days.  I'm trying to savor them now.  Trying.

______My favorite places to read have to be the papasan chair in my room, where I snuggle into my fur blanket like a royal burrito, or the swinging chairs outside, where the light sifts so whimsically through splotches of tree leaves.  Read.  Sip tea.  Pee occasionally.  Change reading positions.  Repeat.  It's a good cycle.

______My mom is probably going to get at me for typing the word "pee" on the Internet.  And for learning that I've been scribbling in her novels.




______Oh, and hey, the most darling lady Katherine (from Of Corgis and Cocktails) featured me as her May style icon, so if you wanna learn more about how much of a dweeb I am, head on over!

Lace top: Charlotte Russe
Skirt: via Modcloth
Socks: Target
Oxford heels: Jeffrey Campbell
Necklace: vintage
Earrings: Lotus Botique

The English Teacher

 ______This skirt that you see is actually a kilt that I'm wearing backwards.  It was my mom's a long time ago and it's made from real Scottish sheep.  The wool part of the sheep, I mean.  Not the whole sheep.  Hopefully, sheep aren't just put through giant sheep grinders and boom, kilt production ensues.  That would be rather saddening.  But yeah, authentic vintage kilt right here, and it's even itchy.  You know if it's itchy it's authentic.

______The first thing I associate with a plaid skirt is school.  So of course, channeling my inner English teacher was a must.  In reality, I would probably make the most awful English teacher ever, mainly because I can't spell or pronounce most English words that a middle schooler can (Thai restaurant? I thought it was pronounced "thigh" restaurant); then again, I have this totally rad teacher for Honors Lit who confessed that he can't spell many things, so I'm sure I'd turn out all right.  What a brave soul he is to admit such a thing in the first place!



______I think I'm getting a hang of my schedule now, so that's good, but I do wish I could stop being so anxious about it all the time.  One of the classes I'm taking is a film photography class, and film photography is so different from normal photography.  Obviously you can't see what you took after you took it, so there's no way to know if you need to re-take it or correct something, plus there's making sure you get all the chemicals right when you're developing, and then there's getting a little sad when certain pictures don't turn out at all and you just wonder if you'll ever get it right.  I'm also taking a 3D design class and we're working with all sorts of new power tools and materials I've never used or even tried.

______That being said, I think the reason why I've been getting anxious and nervous about my classes this year is because, well, I'm afraid of not succeeding.  There are so many new things.  So many unfamiliar things. So many words I've never heard of that other people can utilize as if it's their second language.  So many things I've never tried, never been good at... Which of course means that I have indeed already failed a few times at these things.  I'm not used to that.  I'm not used to failing.  I'm not used to being entirely horrible at something.  I'm at least somewhat decent at most things.  I'm passionate about photography, so it's frustrating that I can't get perfect film pictures on the first or second round through.  I've at least had some familiarity with the other art classes I've taken in the past--I've painted before, even if not with oils, and I've drawn before with most materials, so those classes weren't as difficult to transition into.  It's almost a little hard to stay positive lately.

______Alas, I can only pray that next week will be smoother, and maybe I'll learn some more things.  Better things.  Try to stay positive, my dear citizens!



PS) You can find a different wording of this post over here at Ashley's blog, Twenties Girl Style!

Ruffle top: Isabell de Pedro, secondhand
Kilt: vintage authentic Scottish kilt
Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell, Christmas pressie
Earrings: Charming Charlie

Art Student

______Welp, tomorrow begins my first day of college as a sophomore! I don't really have all that much to do, and yet I feel stressed to a mess--probably just because of the anticipation and unknown mysteries of the first day of classes. Yep. This always happens, even when I try to not let it happen, even when I am prepared and ready, etcetera, etcetera...

______But! On the bright side, I've got lovely roommates (who I know all from high school, two of which were also my roommates last year) and also have my bike down here this year, meaning that I can ride my bike around campus opposed to working out at the Rec (it's rather depressing being on a machine and staring at the same things for such a long time every single day). I also changed my dorm room around slightly so that my desk looks out my window (and the basketball courts, which has the occasional shirtless Honors college hottie). Also, I'm going to keep the blinds on my window up to let more light in, and I've got my pillow from home here opposed to one I had to buy strictly for college.

______It's odd how these little changes can add up to make everything seem even the tiniest bit homier. Hopefully, they'll help to make this year a lot better for me, 'cause last year I didn't feel like I had a true college experience. One of my roommates said the same exact thing about her first year, so hopefully we'll both be able to do it "right" this year!



PS) This outfit was made for a back-to-school post Linda at Trendy Teal over here. Check it outt!

Top: Modcloth
Shorts, anchor belt: Lotus Boutique
Socks: Forever 21
Loafers: Walmart
Beret: Stein Mart
Mustache ring: ?? I forgot

Sailing to Athens

______Sometimes I'll have weeks or months where I can't find anything when shopping, no matter how scrutinizing my searches are. But hey, I'm sure we've all had a couple trips like that--they create dark times in one's little mind universe, no? Like a miniature black plague, except instead of making you deathly ill, it simply plagues your mind. Of course, sometimes I'll have those fabulous shopping trips where I spot something from across the store and just know that I'll walk out of the store with it--this dress is a prime example of such a trip. I saw its lovely shade of rust peeking out from a cluster of dark clothing and immediately snaked toward it like the sneaky snake I am. The dress was like a beacon in the night, calling out to me with its soothing shade of orange. Try me on, it said softly. You will not regret it. I will be perfect on you. And so, not even questioning why a dress was speaking to me, I complied with it and tried it on.

______Well, guess what? The straps were too long and the bust was too low to the point where alterations seemed useless. The dress, it lied!

______Thankfully, upon texting mi madre un foto, she replied saying that it would be fixable. It's a good thing that my mom can sew reaaaaal fancy-like. She's got some magical sewing hands, she does. Thanks, momma!




______Also, I decided to Google search myself today, 'cause I like to do that every once and a while just for the heck of it, and I discovered that Palladium put me on their blog! It's rather exciting, and quite the honor! I've felt warm and fuzzy all day because of it. 

Dress: via Ross Dress for Less ($18, not bad!)
Belt: via Lotus Boutique
Sandals: Franco Sarto, yo
Necklace, earrings: Charming Charlie