Le temps de l'amour

dress: Forever 21 | shoes: Charlotte Russe

Thank you all for your thoughtful comments on my last outfit post! There is still so much I need to mull over, but so far, I feel really good about my decision to give up fast fashion for 6 months. I've only just begun dabbling in research. One thing I plan to look for is companies that are sweatshop free, such as American Apparel. I think a lot of their business practices are great, and that in general they're worth supporting...but though I love the fact that they don't airbrush their models, I have to be honest, I've always found their ads kind of sleazy. I suppose I'm still in search of the perfect company. Thrift stores are always safe, I guess!

Somewhat ironically, in this post - my first outfit post since swearing off fast fashion - I am wearing a Forever 21 dress and Charlotte Russe shoes. But I'm not about to throw away all the clothes I've ever gotten at the mall. Instead, I plan to wear them until they're threadbare, and then stick by the World-War-II-era slogan from the UK:  "Make do and mend." (Which, in a way, I did for this dress: it was so short it made me super uncomfortable, so I had my sister let out the hem a great deal. I love having a sister who's a sewing genius!)

 

The other night, Chris and I went to see Moonrise Kingdom - at last! He's been getting me into Wes Anderson films lately, and I can't believe I had gone this long without seeing them. Every time I finish watching one, I find myself wanting to step into the world in that film. I could live without having a family as dysfunctional as the Tenenbaums, but I would love to have Nico playing in the background as I step off the bus (in slow motion, of course). I don't want to get struck by lightning like Sam in Moonrise, but I would love to live in a world of teals and oranges and mustard yellows and Francoise Hardy records playing on the beach.

I think I've just talked myself into watching one of his films today. Do any of you have a favorite?

I'm absolutely delighted that August is drawing to a close - not just because autumn is my favorite season, but also because this month has been so busy I've hardly been able to catch my breath. Two weddings, two funerals, a new niece born (finally!), another niece turning 1, driving all over the country in a weekend, a huge project at work...I will welcome September with open arms. Now that I'm not in school anymore, I'm going to use it as a month to relax.

I hope you all have had a great weekend! Are you doing anything awesome to close out the summer?

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I believe in symmetry

top: Forever 21 | skirt: vintage |  tights: GAP | shoes: Charlotte Russe

I wrote a while back about how wonderful it was to throw an outfit together completely spontaneously - with no planning or forethought. Just open the closet, grab things on instinct, and hope they look good together. Well, after I wrote that, I have done that...once? Twice? Never, maybe? Until last week.   I put this outfit together out of the blue on a day I knew I'd be out of the office doing a photoshoot - a day I knew I wanted to look at least a little bit professional. And it has ended up being one of my favorite outfits as of late. This is actually the second time I wore it.

When I caught my reflection in the mirror the first time I wore this, I had to laugh: this outfit is perfectly symmetrical. My hair is the same color as my shoes and my top is the same color as my tights. I couldn't have planned it better. I guess I should learn to trust my instincts more often!

If you'll forgive me for trotting out a very tired cliche: I can't believe how fast time is going at the moment. I'm super excited for fall, but I can't believe summer is almost over already. (Not that I mind - the drought and extreme heat hasn't exactly made this this most pleasant season.) Life's seasons are rapidly changing as well - I finally finished paying off my student loans! Definitely a cause for rejoicing, but it's also weird to think that that chapter in my life is over. Until grad school someday, that is.

I'm just glad I have good things to keep me busy. Some friends of mine started up a writers' group for the summer, and I can't tell you how wonderful and inspiring it has been to get to write, and to read the stories my peers are crafting. There's so much talent here!

Another thing on my mind lately is the kind of content I want on this blog. Obviously, it's my blog, so I can do what I want...but I like to know what sorts of things people respond to. For one thing, it has been far too long since I did a Dressipes post. I'm also considering adding occasional recipes (sans "dress") as I learn more how to cook. And I think that the guy behind the camera should step in front of it every once in a while for some guy style posts...don't you think?

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