What I Wore Today

Ello, Chaps. First, I must mention the weather; this would not be a Chicago-based blog without a lil' weather talk. Soooo...lucky us, it's finally getting warm. Remember like two weeks ago we thought it was going to be warm for good? Then, the world was like "nahh," and it dropped to like 40 degrees last Friday. Maybe I shouldn't say it's finally getting warm, I might jinx it. Either way, we must celebrate.

Today it was in the sixties, pretty warm, but not enough for shorts or anything. Even if it were warm enough for shorts, I'd be wearing something to cover my legs. Long story short: I was in Florida last week on a fishing trip with my dad (*cue awwws from the crowd*) and I wore shorts instead of long pants. Hence, I got bit up by the little buggies. I counted 93 bumps. Dag, yo. So, my legs are red and bumpy and diseased lookin'. Das life.

Today, I wore things that I've had for a while. Jeans and shirt are from the Gap. I've had the jeans for three years, shirt for two and they're still solid. For anyone that's been with us for over a year now will remember these shoes from a previous post. Now, they are pretty beat up. The leopard is worn down and there's a little bit of cracking on the side. But, hey, they still look good from afar. 

Since I have had these jeans for three years, what were once artful distresses are now just holes. I've seen girls walk around with just the holes and 4/5 of their legs hanging out, but, uhhh, I think that looks kinda nasty. Instead of doing that, I usually wear a pair of tights under mine. Today, I opted for black lace tights. The tights, shirt and jeans were a nice texture combo.  

This is also a kind of high-low look. I've got the leopard flats and tuxedo-esque shirt, both things I've worn to formal events, with holey jeans. The jeans completely dress down the aforementioned items. Like, completely. I love high-low looks, even just the simple dress and Chucks outfit. I also rarely wear light wash jeans, so this is worth documenting. 

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Friday Finale

Woop. It's Friday. We're gonna start doing "wrap-up" posts on Fridays. They'll just have stuff we like in them, things that happened this week, things you should check out, and maybe even a sneak peek of future posts. Who knows?!

Good eats

I have some very exciting news. My cousin Makini Howell just released a cookbook. Whoooooo!! Schwag, schwag. She is an amazing vegan chef and if you happen to find yourself in the Seattle area, you must visit on of her restaurants. Plum Bistro is what is hot and popping in Seattle right now. Though all of the food in her restaurant and cookbook is vegan, I swear you won't even be able to tell. She makes healthy, vegan food accessible. And to all you hip kids, there's really nothing more hip than being vegan. Cook your friends something tasty. You can snag her book for a cool 20 bucks via Amazon. 

Good reads

• Kid Cudi might have the most under-appreciated style out there. (via Complex)
• Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci is the Man of The Moment. (via TMagazine)
• How to come out to your parents as a stylish person. As you might predict, this is hilarious. (via Complex)
• Travel while you're young. Gap year, anyone? (via Goins Writer)
• Treat Chicago gangs as terrorist. (via CNN)

Good music

The xx will be back in Chicago in September. Literally so excited. They were here this past October and I didn't go to the concert and I have been beating myself up ever since. If you haven't heard their newest album, Coexist, you have no excuse because Spotify exist. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10am. Who's tryna go wit meh?

Good buys

• Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. I loved this book, highly recommend it. Check out my blog posts to see what it's about and why it's fantastic. 
• I would put up links to awesome deals on clothes, but I'd like to focus on literacy. This woman was handing out free books for World Book Night (April 23rd) when I was at the train and people were like "no." They'd say no and return to playing Angry Birds or something on their phone. Or they'd take the book and just throw it on the ground. I couldn't believe it. Books are like 12 dollars. 12 dollars?! And you just got that for free. Dag. People kill me sometimes. Read a book, you might learn something. 

What to expect next week:

• What I'll be wearing this Spring....well, it's been Spring for about a month now, so what I will wear when it gets warm.
• What I picked up in Prague.
• Guest post from a dapper young man. 

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Shop. Travel. Love.

                                   I have a new love in my life. It isn't blonde or brunette. It isn't straight or frizzy haired. Nor is it fat bottomed. But it is slim and sexy just like I like em. It's my most recent splurge. And it's a shirt.

I recently returned from Granada, Spain and who would've known they had such great shopping. Though my favorite store was in the shopping central I knew it'd be the same experience I could have back in America so I skipped out on the H&M stop. But another favorite brand was also in the same area and I knew this would be different. I passed it every day as it hid off the main road which I took on my route to school. It was the Lacoste store and I just knew I had to go there before my trip was over.

Then that day had finally come.

I went in knowing I was going to purchase but I didn't know what. Having two female friends with me it made it harder to ignore that urge to spend. I looked around and boy was I like "Ain't nobody got Euro fo dat" but then I saw the sales rack and there it was, in sizes just for me. I ignored the price tag because it was 40% off and that percent off of any price is good, right? I took the two shirts from the rack and tried on both. One fit just right and the other a size up and a better look so I went with that one. I felt anxious to swipe my debit card so I bought it. I was nervous and a little guilty. I text my mom right after sharing with her I felt wrong spending so much on a shirt and she went on to reply: "You only live once and you're in Spain."

Now that I'm home and I am bored out of my mind and need something to love, I just see my shirt hanging in my closet. It reminds me it has so much more of a purpose than it seems. It makes me think of how time has flown and how cryptic it all seems. It mends the heart that experienced traveling out of the country for the first time. The heart that misses being free in Spain and making memories. Making new connections and strengthening others. Every break seems so bittersweet. Things have changed now that I'm back in America. Break is over. Though change has come, all I have to do is think about my shirt and remember boy is that one sexy piece of... fabric. And I start to feel a little better. 

Packing for Praha

I'm going to Prague on Monday. Woo! I'll be sharing pics once I get back, but I thought I'd share a bit of what I'm taking with me. I like to pack light and stay as far away from that 50 pound mark as possible. The only time I neared fifty was when I was traveling for a month. Imma be gone for about 10 days, so 50 pounds just seems like too much. Below is what I'll be taking to Prague, including a dress, cardigan, and tweed jacket that aren't pictured. Where y'all vacationing?! Whatcha wearing?! Let us know.

Jeans, tee, desert boots. This is just casual, but hella cool. I'm effing pretty hard with these striped tees Gap rolled out for Spring. They're not fitted, but not too baggy either. They're spot on. This is just something to wear while tromping around the city. My deserts boots are so damn reliable; they're good in the sun, good in the rain, just made to last. And they're comfortable -- obviously the move for a sightseeing trip. I'll be packing a couple variations of this outfit (because we'll be tromping almost erryday).

Jeans, button downs, sweater, oxfords, Kerouac. This packing process made me realize how many Ralph Lauren shirts I have. Conclusion: I have a lot. But, yea, so I can wear the button downs alone or layer them under the sweater. The weather is as variable in Prague as it is in Chicago, so I'm just tryna be prepared. The jeans  are from Gap; they fit so incredibly well and the wash is so dark, they're sure to look good on anyone. For their price, 70 bucks then whatever sale that never ends takes more moola off, they're such a good buy. I'll also be reading On the Road by Jack Kerouac while I'm away. If you've read it or you are suddenly inspired to read it, hit meh up. I'd love to chat about it.

Because I realized I only had one pair of pants: camo, Harvard (...) crewneck, oxfords, Timex. This might just be my fly-home outfit. Or my stick-in-my-carry-on-just-in-case-my-bag-gets-lost-for-six-days outfit. This Harvard maroon needs to be replaced with a University of Chicago maroon, just sayin'. 

Keep ya eyes peeled for muh pictures from Prague. Enjoy your Spring breaks. And if you don't have a break, skip school, work, whatever and take a break -- you deserve one.

Borrowed from the Boys: Errythang

Just in case you don't know this about me, I love menswear. I'm not sure why, but I find menswear to be a more interesting than women's wear. Just how little there is to work with and how some men can pull that off so easily.

On that note, I just wanted to throw up a quick outfit post. Menswear inspired, of course. On top of menswear, I'm really into the prep aesthetic which, I think, really shows in this outfit. I went with a collegiate crewneck over a blue and white striped Ralph Lauren oxford, neon salmon straight-leg pants, and penny loafers with striped socks. A lot of people are against the penny with sock combo, but it was hella cold and I actually love seeing a nice pair of socks.

D'awww look at muh cute face.

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Photos by Ally Almore.