Layered Confections

This week has produced some of the first genuinely cold days here in Austin. Maybe it's the start of November that has caused Texas to finally accept and acknowledge that autumn is here, or maybe it was the thunderstorms we had in the beginning of the week. Either way, I have busted out the black tights, the cozy jackets and toasty scarves to block the chill from my brittle bones. Personally, I welcome the colder weather. By the time summer is over I am dreadfully tired of cut off shorts and sandals and the craving for layers of luscious knits has planted itself firmly in my mind. I find that in the late fall and winter months though, a lot of people succumb to the temptation to just throw on an oversized and sloppy coat or sweatshirt to keep warm on their way out the door. Layers are without a doubt the best alternative as they will keep you just as warm if not warmer (depending on how many you pile on) and they are far more visually appealing! A tasteful mix of textures and patterns or colors creates an interesting aesthetic-- some of my favorite outfits in my closet happened when I just started putting different pieces on. As your flair for outfitting yourself improves, the layered look will give off that perfectly sexy, messy, "I-rolled-out-of-bed-looking-this-good" vibe. Effortlessly chic. 

Ever since I played personal shopper for Michael at the beginning of the school year this fall, he's been eager to get to wear the colder weather clothes we bought. Yesterday he came over to pick me up and take me to the doctor. When I opened the door to let him in I was incensed that he dared to look great while I was stuffy-nosed, and aurally infected, still bumming in my pajamas at three in the afternoon, and simultaneously impressed with his eye candy of an outfit. It was a perfectly delicious blend of fashion tastes resulting in a look you could call "playful hipster." He combined a well-tailored pair of black pinstripe pants with a sleek belt and vintage buckle. On top he wore one of our favorite Goodwill finds, a worn-in black Coca-Cola graphic tee written in Russian (I think), and added to it a standard blue-toned plaid flannel. To top off this layered cake with a bit of stylized frosting, he threw on a simple twill jacket with a skinny knit scarf and wore blue high-top sneakers. And of course, as Michael does every day, he wore his Swiss Legend watch and black Ray-Ban aviators that I got him. The look had a character and charm all its own. I've tried to recreate it below as best I could with similar items I found online (the original was better though). I think this is a very interesting but easy look just begging to be emulated. Enjoy!

Michael by slindig05

Heavy Flannel Check Long Sleeve Shirt A , 30 GBP
Gourmet Men's Nove Sneaker, $100
Bulova - Men's BVA Series 115 - 98A110 (Silver/Gold) - Jewelry, $503
Ray-Ban RB8041 Aviator Titanium Sunglasses | Official Ray-Ban Site, $215
Bedstu - Precious (Silver) - Accessories, $55
Cheap Monday Vince Checked Scarf, $24
Gap Pinstriped tailored pants (slim fit), $70
Fix Design, omaggio alla Coca Cola sulle t-shirt
Monster Vintage.com Vintage Clothing at its Best For Mens & Womens...
DJPremium.com - Detailed Images of JET LAG JACKET by Black Apple
JanSport Right Pack Originals - Imageview - Free Shipping & Return...

I'm shipping some of my clothes tomorrow and piling whatever can fit into my car. Michael and I are going to road-trip to New York starting either tomorrow evening or Saturday morning depending on how quickly we get everything done! If all goes as planned we should be getting in no later than Sunday. I just loaded a bunch of music on my iPhone for the drive. Anyone have any good playlist suggestions?? It's quite a long trip... Wish me luck! By the way, I made a new banner for my blog and my Twitter page. What do you think?

-S.

Wild Thing

After a morning of chaos and worry, a day spent soaking up the peacefulness of nature was greatly appreciated. As a newbie to the Austin scene, I hadn't yet been to the Barton Creek Wilderness Park. It did not take long to fall in love with the place, though. Within moments of walking onto the roughly beaten path a sense of comforting isolation swept over me. The dense trees, roots rippling through the dry dirt, offered me privacy and quiet from the urban noise just outside the parks border. I decided to abandon the path for a little adventure, and after a few near slips and falls (this was an impromptu trip and my ballet flats weren't exactly traction-friendly) I reached a perfect wading area of the creek. Sunlight was flirting with me from behind its leafy branch lashes, peeking through and out coyly to kiss my cheeks and nose. It was absolute perfection. 

The beauty, and often the humor, of being a fashion fiend is that no matter the setting or the circumstances, you are always thinking of outfits. As I sat at the edge of a rapid little waterfall and dipped my hot pink pedicured toes into the cool stream, all I could think of was how great it would be to go back there when the weather cooled down and cozy layers would be appropriate. As my surroundings so often do, this wild wooded park began to flicker a spark of creative fire in me. Visions of rugged, fuzzy flannels and chunky knit sweaters began to prance around my imagination. I started thinking of driving out to my family's farm to snag my hiking boots stashed in the drawer under the bed upstairs. Though I'd only ever worn them for practicality's sake while hunting, suddenly they sounded so trendy and desirable. Backpacks that hold a load and serve a look were etched onto my need-to-buy-when-I-get-a-few-bucks list! And in order to better fit the organic persuasion of my forest, I figured a watch would be a step closer to natural than my iPhone for the purpose of telling time. So now I will wait for the air to chill and the leaves to crackle so that I may run back to my new sanctuary. The coquette sun and the majestic trees will keep me company as I break in my newly inspired aesthetic.

Take a peek after the jump!

S.

Hobo Chic?

This is what I'd be wearing today if...
a.) I weren't living out of a suitcase, and
b.) it wasn't 90 degrees outside.

Wishful by slindig05 featuring lace jewelry

sequin racerback vest, 425 GBP
James Perse Knitted merino wool sweater, $325
Mid-rise bleached skinny jeans, $98
Surface To Air 'Buckle Ankle Boot' Mastic, 233 GBP
botkier Brooklyn Cross-Body Hobo, $348
Muriel Grateau 18k Blackened white gold lace ring, 1,085 GBP
Original Aviator Sunglasses, $140

S.

For Us Broke Babies

I had always thought the corny idioms my mother used as I was growing up were entirely old-fashioned. Somehow though, I have recently fallen prey to the kitschy sayings I so deeply loathed before. My phrase of choice these days is "When it rains it pours." I figure my last blog post was so chunky that it bought me this week or so that I have been absent! After the relaxation over Labor Day weekend in NY, life hit me square between the eyes with a responsibility-packed punch. I don't think I much care for these transition phases. This in between summer/fall time (summall? sumtumn?) is too confused. So I will dream of chunky knit sweaters, supple, leather boots and cozy flannels until the 90 degree weather down here in Austin chooses to cooperate! One of my favorite stores is Free People. I used to be able to afford their clothes and accessories more, but even now I still shell out some cash for particularly exquisite pieces. FP has some great looks for this fall in their September lookbook on their website! I've done some digging around to try and find similar looks for less- check them out after the jump!

S. 

 

 

*Above pictures are courtesy of Freepeople.com!