OUTFIT | #71

top: Forever 21; necklace, shorts: Topshop; watch: Swatch; loafers: Urban Outfitters

I know some people make a big deal out of wearing multiple patterns (Is it a trend? Can you tell I don't follow these things?) but so much of what I own is patterned anyway that it's unavoidable for me. These are what I like to refer to as my John Hughes shorts because they're that high-waisted, slightly 'unflattering' (Which doesn't bother me. Sometimes I just want to wear what I want to wear and not worry about 'dressing for my shape' or any of that business) style that you'll find every female actress wearing in Brat Pack films. The pattern tends to photograph as an odd blur of white and black but trust me, they're covered in tiny polka dots. 

I'm moving into my new student digs this weekend and also starting a new job. I've never done the whole 9-5 thing before so it could prove interesting. I will also be without internet for the foreseeable future, as I'm still working that through with my new housemates. I'm trying not to think about what I'm going to do while I'm waiting for it to be installed. Read a lot, I guess?

RECENT PURCHASE | New (Old) Watch

I wear a watch every day. Yes, I still check the time on my phone more often than not but I feel weird and naked without a watch. This Swatch used to be one of my favourites. I got it while on holiday in Rome a few years ago. Back then, it was all grey and I wore it everywhere. Cut to a year later and I'm on holiday (again) in the south of France and somewhere in between the many hours I spent in the water in Nice's pebbled beaches and various train journeys to swanky Cote D'Azur cities, I broke the damn strap. 

The watch went into a drawer that I'd open occasionally and think 'Crap, I should really get that fixed' and then I'd forget about it again. I finally remembered to go to a Swatch store and see about fixing it while I was in the US. There I was informed that Swatch don't make replacement straps in all the colours they offer their watches in (Who knew?). So my watch was reincarnated into what my sister refers to as a 'hospital wrist-tag'. Personally, I like the grey and transparent look. Mostly I'm just glad to have my watch finally fixed. Expect to see it in basically every outfit I wear from now on.

OUTFIT | #70

top: American Apparel; shorts: H&M; watch: Swatch; shoes: Office

I have three words for you: American Apparel outlet. Sadly I discovered this gem at the end of my trip when I was down to my last few dollars. I did manage to pick up this shirt for $10 though (Who can say they bought a shirt from AA for less than twenty bucks? Seriously?) It's kind of perfect. Super comfortable, striped and slightly cropped. This was the summer I finally braved the crop top in public. Several times, in fact. I'm pretty proud of myself. 

And yes, I'm wearing the yellow shorts again. I've worn them at least 4x a week for the past month. They're basically my favourite clothing item ever. I'm dreading the impending the arrival of autumn when I have to give them up until next summer. 

OUTFIT | #69

jacket, shorts: H&M; blouse: Urban Outfitters; sandals: Topshop; watch: Sekonda; nails: Essie 'Clambake'

I like pastels. They're cute and inoffensive. Sometimes the summer can leave me out of my element; no black, barely any navy? My staple colours are off limits for a few months of the year and it can be a struggle. I have the majority of my 'oh god, I have nothing to wear, I'm staying in my pajamas all day' strops during the summer. I am warming to pastels though. They're a far cry from monochrome and everything I'm comfortable with but I try.

I hadn't worn this blouse in ages because in my head it was always associated with a really crappy day I once had when I wore it. It's a shame because it was one of my favourites when I first bought it. Recently I've been culling a lot of old unworn clothes and decided it was time to start wearing it again. This was its first outing in a while and, poor neglected thing, the ruffles wouldn't sit right. I think it was punishing me for leaving it unworn for so long or something. Clearly this shirt and I have a way to go before we make amends.

RECENT PURCHASES | August 2012

Bath & Body Works Secret Wonderland body spray; Real Techniques Core Collection brushes; Zoya Maisie nail polish; Urban Decay Naked palette

I'm visiting family in New Jersey currently and, other than diners, something NJ has plenty of is malls. So I've been shopping. Naturally. Not aimlessly, mind. I had a list and a budget and I've stuck to it. Mostly. The Zoya nail polish was an impulsive sale purchase. I need another nail polish like a hole in the head, but it was cheap and sparkly. How could I resist?

The Naked palette and Real Techniques brushes were top of my list, while the body spray was a replacement bottle; mine at home is nearly completely gone. Secret Wonderland is one of my favourite Bath & Body Works scents. I'd deliberated between the Naked or Naked 2 palette for a while. They look pretty similar to me in all the swatch pictures I've seen and I don't like the weird tin packaging of the Naked 2. Plus I heard a few sneaking rumours that the eyeshadows were more pigmented in the original so I figured it was a safer bet. It did sting to drop $50 on one make up item but I just kept reminding myself that it worked out to less than $5 an eyeshadow so it didn't seem quite so bad.