New Blog Header (again)

Since I've started blogging again I've been toying with the layout and various elements of the blog. I failed out of computer programming but with the help of google changing fonts, colors, sizes, etc is so easy I can't help but tweak.

My first blog header used a gorgeous William Morris design aptly named Tudor Roses.


Image via moma

When I started blogging again I had a header all ready to go. During my summer at the Walpole I bookmarked tons of little drawings that friends of Horace had done, including a watercolor design for a frame by Mr. Bentley.


shown here in the folio in which it resides
Image via the walpole

Leah, my delightful sister and sometimes co-blogger, rejected my new header. So it was back to the drawing board, or rather the many amazing collections Yale houses. I was researching at the Yale Center for British Art for my thesis (the thesis I'm supposed to be working on right now) when I came across the paintings of Jacques-Laurent Agasse (1767-1849). Most famous for his paintings of animals, Jacques-Laurent Agasse was a Swiss painter who spent most of his adult life in England painting pictures of dogs for wealthy patrons. He also painted exotic animals like zebras and clouded leopards.


Image via the YCBA

Given the many hours I have spent researching the symbolism of flowers in early modern England, I was particularly taken with Agasse's studies of flowers. And so, with some help from picnik, a new blog header was born.


Image via the YCBA, editing by me

This past year...

So my last post is from early july. Every once and a while a friend will turn to me and ask when I'm going to start blogging again. I always shrug and change the subject. The truth is, I loved blogging. But when school started up in September I simply didn't have the time to devote that I had had in my sophomore and junior years. Senior year was (and still is) a whole different ball game. Not only do I have my regular classes, my senior project/essay, and the shows I costume design, I'm also supposed to be figuring out what the heck I'm going to do with the rest of my life.

A few weeks ago I started hearing back from graduate programs. A few days ago I made my decision and next year I will be moving to the big city to start a Master's program in Visual Cultures: Costume History at NYU, Steinhardt. I'm so excited for this new step in my academic career but it got me thinking about what else I will be doing in New York next year. In particular, I'm hoping that I'll have more time to develop this blog and find my voice as a blogger.

One of the biggest reasons I stopped blogging (besides the lack of time) was my unease at where I fit in the blogging world. I read so many blogs daily, and click through hundreds more over the weeks, and I was worried that my blog, while fun for friends and family to read, offered nothing new. Everything gets reposted these days, and that's fine, but I didn't want to restart my blog without some original content.

I'll still be posting cute shoes and DIY tutorials, because those things make me happy. But what I'm hoping is that eventually this blog will become a place where I can share the research I'm doing as a graduate student and as a writer. This summer my sister and I will be moving to Lakeside, Michigan to work as a writer (me) and a waitress/cook (Leah). We have a bunch of projects we'll be working on together, including a cooking show in which a cook (once again, Leah), teaches an idiot (that's me) how to make basic foodstuffs.

For right now my posting will probably continue to be erratic as I finish up school, move to NYC, and then pack up and move once again to Michigan. But watch this space, because (hopefully) soon we'll be back up and running!

Things I've Bought Files: Red Pants

My adorably preppy roommate talked me into buying a pair of red pants on our latest shopping adventure. These red pants:


From Zara

I'm thinking I'll wear them with a light plaid or gingham shirt this summer. Or maybe a loose knit cream sweater.

Serious question: can one wear a red coat with red pants?

Spring Fling: Part 3

For my third Spring Fling (our annual spring music festival to celebrate the end of classes) I'm sticking with my tradition of rompers. But this year I went even more 90's and bought these overalls from Forever 21.



I think all the Ally McBeal I have recently been watching is really starting to mess with my head!

Brand Spotlight: Nishe

While browsing on ASOS looking for spring dresses I came across a great brand, Nishe. I adore their swallow print dress and top.





I've been wearing a lot of black and grey this winter, I'm ready to get back to ethereal whites and pinks!

Imports from Abroad

For spring break I went to Puerto Morelos, Mexico, Paris, and London with friends and family. Leah and I had three glorious days in Paris filled with macaroons (so. many. macaroons.) and shopping.

My favorite purchases were definitely shoes. Two from Paris, one pair from London.

I'm back!

Alright, here we go. First post in over how many months?

A lot of stuff has happened since I was last here. And clearly its been keeping me so busy that I haven't been able to pop over, even for a quick hello. (I would do a sad face emoticon, but I feel pretty eh about emoticons.)

I think about blogging all the time. And I miss it. So I'm back and ready to try again. Andiamo!

Birthday Dress

Speaking of perfect black items of clothing...I decided to invest in a lbd for my upcoming 21st birthday, since nothing seems as classy and grownup as the perfect little black dress.



I am not planning on wearing it with boots to my party (still searching for the elusive perfect sparkly shoes...) but I like the idea of it, especially for less fancy occasions. Maybe with a chunky sweater and cable knit tights?

In which Jcrew creates an obsession

So we've all seen this Jcrew ad right?



This image is everything I want for fall. Furry vests, fitted blazers, pretty jewels, undone hair and bold lips. After a quick google search I know the actual color used in this ad is Nars Funny Face. But I couldn't find Nars products anywhere near me and I require immediate gratification. So it's off to Target where I find the perfect (and much cheaper) alternative, Revlon's Super Lustrous Lipstick in Fuchsia Fusion.



Wearing: max and co. shoes, yaya aflalo skirt, h&m dress, aritzia sweater



My roommate Augusta took the picture. I couldn't stop laughing. Oh well. We also had to photophop, but I think it is the most accurate picture of the color.

Siena: week 2

Wearing: jcrew headband, tory burch sunglasses, jcrew dress, uniqlo slip, ysl bag, matt berson sandals

This weekend we met up with a friend in Rome. The highlights were definitely a dinner at Taverna Romana (here's a really good article about the neighborhood it is in) and trekking up to the cupola of Saint Peter's while a mass was going on. We were planning on not shopping until a chance encounter with a woman on the street (she literally leaned out of her shop to tell us it was only open from 10pm until 2am) meant a 20 minute detour and the purchase of a bikini from the 1950's (unworn) and a cacharel cardigan decorated with cherries.

Returning to Siena really felt like coming home, and our sleepy little city is quickly transforming into a medieval town as preparations for the Palio are well under way. If you have never heard of the Palio I highly recommend a visit to wikipedia trip. I have decided to route for the chiocciola contrada, their mascot is a snail! (R. thinks I'm crazy but there is something wonderfully ironic about having a snail as your mascot for a race.)


A flag thrower from chiocciola in traditional medieval costume

We also ended up back at Aloe & Wolf today where I finally decided to buy a bowler hat. I also found some very nice vintage Italian ties for my dad, happy late father's day!

Speaking of which, I forgot to give a birthday shout-out to my sister (and sometimes co-blogger) Leah. Happy birthday Wintergreen, you're an adult now but I'm still going to tell you what to do because that's what big sisters are for.

Sono arrivato a Siena!

So far Siena has been amazing. Our host parents are wonderful, they always correct our Italian. Learning a new language is hard, but hugely rewarding. We had our first class at our new school today (which is housed in an old psychiatric hospital). R. and I ate lunch at a very good restaurant close to the Duomo, Taverna del Capitano. We also managed to find the only vintage store (I think) in Siena, Aloe & Wolf Vintage and art gallery.

The owners are a really cool woman, Alessandra Aloe and her boyfriend who I didn't get to meet. Her store is stuffed with the coolest italian vintage, R. and I spent an hour just looking through everything. She has an amazing designer selection which I mostly just ogled. I did try on a Moschino jacket from the 80's, but it was a little out of my price range. In the end I bought a dress and a belt and R. got a tie. I am still debating a bowler hat. I love when Rachel Weitz wears one in the Brother's Bloom but I don't know if I can pull it off!


I was too excited to stand still! Wearing: aritzia shirt, zara skirt, ysl bag

shopping ban update

Alrighty, so I finally have internet in my new apartment though getting it was a nightmare and a half. Comcast, we are in an enormous fight if you didn't already know.

In my last post I promised home improvement and cooking. The apartment is slowly starting to look like a home, but there are still areas that need work. My shoe collection desperately needs a home. At the moment its sitting in a yellow crate that I bought at the elephant trunk flea market. Yup, I finally made it and on the only sunday I could go this summer there was a hurricane warning so there weren't that many vendors or shoppers. I did manage to get a lamp ($5), the aforementioned crate ($7), some glass bottles ($4) and a book on the Palio ($20).

My cheat day has come and gone. I managed to restrain myself at Madewell and got one t-shirt.


So soft and I wear my other three all the time.

Jcrew seduced me into buying a very adorable shirt-dress. Since I am not a giant as this model appear to be the dress is a perfectly respectable length on me.



I resisted the lures of this one. (Indigo-stripe Schuyler dress, $168)


I am still debating the pros and cons of a fedora from jcrew which is not online yet. All in all I think I did very well. I am definitely avoiding urban outfitters at all costs, though I had to walk by on the way to the bookstore today and was almost won over by a sale rack.

A trip to target for household items was a challenge but I made it through.

Summah Posting

So obviously I'm slacking a little bit since it's summer. But soon I'll be back in New Haven to start my Italian class and I'm hoping with a little more routine in my life I'll be blogging more regularly.

I'm also planning on going on a shopping hiatus for these next three weeks, similar to the one that Rachel over at Heart of Light does. After reading her thoughts on last years hiatus (here) I decided to undertake my own with a few modifications. Mine will be 3 rather than 12 weeks and I will be still allowing furniture and thrift store purchases since I am trying to outfit a new apartment. The main thing I want to cut back on is new clothes. As I've been moving from dorm to new apartment and home I've come to realize how many clothes I have that I just don't wear.

I have built in one cheat day because I know R. and I are going to the mall one day soon ostensibly to return get him a new iphone but there is also a Madewell there and I doubt I will be able to resist.

So for the next three weeks I will be focusing more on home improvement and the adventures of learning how to cook. See you soon!

Ready for Siena

It's really nice to be home, even if the weather in Chicago is less than ideal. I've still managed to eat at most of my favorite restaurants (Penny's Noodle Shop, Riccardo Trattoria, and CBA to name a few) and shop a lot.

After a little research on weather.com I am preparing for a hot summer in Italy. So number one on my list was a hat. I have extremely pale skin and I burn red like a tomato with just a few hours in the sun. I found a few good options at urban but went with a cheaper alternative from forever 21 because I know it will probably get shmooshed quite a bit.

Next up on the list of must-haves: a white dress. I live in white in the summer, no matter how many pretty prints I buy I always reach for a clean white dress. I usually choose a simply shift style, but I couldn't resist a slightly more elaborate version from Anthropologie.


Wearing: forever 21 hat, anthropologie dress

I'll be sharing more summer essentials throughout the week, including but not limited to the heart sunglasses I finally found!

It's been a while!

Since the last time I posted I have:

1. Taken 2 finals
2. Wrote a combined 25 pages
3. Created a web exhibition
4. Packed and moved from my dorm into my new apartment (!)
5. Made it back to Chicago in one piece

I can't believe how long it's been since I blogged, but I was so overwhelmed with everything that I definitely needed the break.

For now I'm in Chicago, hanging out with family before we head back to New Haven to see my brother graduate from Yale. Then I'll be in New Haven for three weeks where I'll be furnishing my new apartment (expect lots of posts about flea markets in CT and DIY projects) and starting to learn Italian! That's right, this summer I am taking an intensive summer course with R. We have three weeks in New Haven and then five in Siena Italy. I can't wait.

Reading Week Break

Just stopping by to say that posting might be a little light for the next few days due to finals and moving out etc.

Hope you all are having more fun than me.


Rock on ring from Marc Barer

Currently Loving: Cynthia Vincent for Target

Like the rest of the blogosphere I can't get enough of these Cynthia Vincent for Target wedges.





I've been stalking my local target store ever since they came in but unfortunately they never got these wedges! I may have to order them from ebay...

Daily Ensemble: aerial view

Wearing: madewell tshirt, h&m skirt, chanel flats

I stayed up half the night writing an art history paper so I'm in desperate need of a nap. I can hardly believe it but this week is our last week of classes! Unfortunately that means sleep will be in short supply for a while. Yay college!

Weekend Ensemble: New York City!

On Saturday R and I ventured to the city for a little break from our work and New Haven. We went to the Henri Cartier-Bresson exhibit at MoMA which was incredibly overwhelming. We saw the movie, Exit Through the Gift Shop, which was thoroughly entertaining. And then we ate dinner at a wonderful Mexican restaurant, Cascabel Taqueria.


Wearing: scarf from morocco, berenice trenchcoat, h&m sweater dress, topshop shorts, jcrew tights, stuart weitzman boots


My intrepid guide conferring with his recon squad

Daily Ensemble: heidi braids

I woke up really early this morning and instead of doing the mountain of homework that keeps piling up I decided to attempt this adorable hairstyle that cupcakes and cashmere was rocking the other day.




Wearing: reiss dress, american apparel slip, topshop shorts, repetto flats