a simple combination.

wiley wears:

dress: vintage and diy'd

cardigan: gap

tights: h&m

boots: uo

     last night jeb and i headed out to his hometown to have dinner with his aunt and uncle.  jeb got his favorite home cooked meal and i got to wear one of my favorite vintage dresses.  i've only worn this once since i did some nipping and tucking to it, and that was back in the hottest days of july.  it's the perfect dress to rework for the winter months and i thought the purple looked great with all of the touches of black.  with such a bold color and pattern i thought it was important to keep everything else pretty simple.  recently i've been doing a lot of grabbing black tights and a black blazer or cardigan and throwing a brightly colored dress on top.  it's such an easy combination for the layering months of winter.

party all the time.

wiley wears:

top: old navy

skirt: gap

belt: vintage

necklace: nomad

tights: ae

boots: target

     i wore this outfit to a thirtieth birthday party for one of our closest friends on saturday night.  this is one of my favorite skirts and it's absolutely perfect for dancing.  i was looking for something warm and comfortable to pair with the skirt and figured i would layer on some basic neutral pieces and add some color with accessories.  i really like the way the outfit turned out and it was totally perfect for an evening of celebration.  (happy 30th mere!)

birthday love.

i couldn't resist posting this photo that i found a few months ago.  the perfect picture in celebration of the man i love's birthday.  we love our photobooth sessions at the beach and i love looking at all of the old photos we've plastered all over the fridge.

happy birthday burke.

i love you.

{can't find a photo source.  please comment if you have an idea.}

blogging technology.

 

this week's fbff questions, from katy of modlychic, are about the technology of blogging.  read below to see my answers to the questions and check out katy's blog to see what other bloggers had to say.

1. What technology do you use in blogging? (computer, camera, video camera, tripod, etc...) 
my computer is a macbook, camera is a nikon coolpix L100, and i use the most basic of tripods...a pretty simple setup
2. What computer and online technology do you use? (blogging system, photo storage, photo editing tools, etc..) 
i chose the most user-friendly (in my opinion) options when i created my blog.  i use blogger, since i am a total lover of all things google.  after i take my photos i use iphoto for editing and storage.
3. What is your process for taking pictures? 
my photos are a big piece of my blog that i look forward to really focusing on in 2011.  i'm currently using a point-and-shoot that isn't always perfect at capturing the detail and colors in each of my photos. i'm excited to purchase an slr this year and learn a bit more about photography with jeb.  my typical photo-taking process is pretty simple.  jeb and i head out after work (or indoors during cold or rainy days) and shoot my photos somewhere in our neighborhood.  we usually take about 12-15 photos.  i then upload them, delete the bad ones, edit about four or five and then narrow it down to the best three.  i don't do a whole lot of fancy editing...just the basics.
4. When it comes to backdrops for your photos what do you consider? Do you scout locations or shoot the same spot daily? 
we often take photos against the fence behind our house, but my favorite thing about having a daily wear blog is finding awesome backdrops for my pictures.  the city is the perfect place to find stellar locations, although a lot of my photos are also taken at the beach in the summertime.  i rarely have an idea of where to shoot, but usually happen upon a spot as we are heading out to an evening's destination.
5. If you could splurge and get one new piece of equipment what would you be buying?

hands-down a canon eos rebel t2i.  it's the camera i have been dying over for quite awhile now and i'm hoping to make it my own this year.

i'd love to hear your tips on the best cameras, equipment, and blogging in general!

{image found here}

style spotlight: mustard.

i've been thinking that this mustard shade of yellow may be the absolute best color for winter.  it's bright and warm and the perfect sunny color to bring some sunshine into the these dreary days.  it is such a great color for accessorizing, but recently i have seen a ton of ladies pulling this bold color off with sweaters, pants and coats. 

i say, more mustard please.

thoughts?

{images found here.}

off days.

so no lack of guilt could get me up and dressed today.

sorry, folks.  hopefully i will be back in the next day or two.

for now, it's back to bed with little cat.

{image found here.}

at least it's not my pajamas.

wiley wears:

cardigan: thrifted

tee: michael stars (via the swap)

jeans: bdg

boots: uo

hat: uo

     i wish that jeb's old t-shirts were considered fashionable because then i would have worn one really wonderful outfit the last few days.  unfortunately i haven't really left the house in a few days and have been laying around in pajamas trying to feel better.  i tried to put myself together for a little bit tonight because i always feel so guilty not doing a 'wiley wears' post; although in this case, it's only a quick and comfy outfit for a freezing cold night.  i love this cardigan i found while thrifting with my mom over thanksgiving and i got this soft michael stars tee at the swap last thursday.  nothing better than a t-shirt, jeans and a soft cotton cardigan.

thanks to jill for taking my pictures!

happy tuesday.

lazy sunday.

wiley wears:

top: f21

jeans: bdg

boots: vintage

scarf: free people

sunnies: rayban

     i threw this together last night for lin's birthday party.  sometimes the best outfits are the ones put together quickly.  after spending most of my saturday with a terrible headache, i finally decided to change out of pajamas and get cleaned up right before we headed off for the evening's celebration.  i love this silky loose-fitting top and i thought my free people scarf would be a great way to mix up the color palette.  i really do need to scan in the images from the awesome book jeb's mom found me on tying scarves.  my favorite is definitely tying a thin scarf, like this, up in a bow.  it really brightens up a basic top and jeans combination.  well...it's off to enjoy the last few hours of my sunday evening.

enjoy yours!

blogger authenticity.

this week katy of modlychic posed questions about blogger authenticity.  i thought these were great questions because authenticity may be the best descriptor of what i find most fascinating and awesome about my favorite blogs.  read below for my answers and check out katy's blog to read other bloggers comments.

1. Most readers and fellow fashion bloggers value authenticity in the blogs they read. How would you describe blog/blogger authenticity?

    my answer to this is pretty simple.  i read blogs because they aren't magazines.  i follow blogs because they are an honest interpretation of what life actually looks like.  it is far more fun to see a girl in an amazing outfit when i know that she styled it herself, took her own photos and wrote her own piece about the look.  blogs are a realistic chance for us to look at fashion and style.  i want to relate to the blogs i read.

2. When it comes to your blog how to you infuse it with that true/authentic feeling?
     i think my blog is all about honesty.  i say when i am in a style rut, have had a bad day or know that my ensemble isn't quite working.  if my life looks perfect from my blog then you haven't actually been reading.

3. Have you stopped following a blog in the last three months? What made you lose interest?
     i can't pinpoint i blog i have stopped reading recently, but i go in stages.  i have to say that my favorite bloggers now were my favorite bloggers two years ago.  i find a voice i love and stick with it.  i tend to lose interest in blogs when they don't have coherent messages or styles.  i like when a blog stays true to it's roots and you can see the blogger in their words, rather than someone who changes with the tides.

4. We can't communicate effectively on our blogs, something we don't live in real life... what are some ways you try to live an authentic life?
     as i said before, honestly is the most important thing.  on this blog and in my real life.  i do the things i love, spend time with the people i care about most and try to keep a curious eye in everything.

5. Give a shout-out... Which bloggers do you think are truly genuine and why?
     my favorite bloggers are the ones who are open about their struggles and who help me learn more through reading.  they tell stories, talk about family, friends and the lives they lead. they live real lives and look good while doing it.  e, julie, rach, kyla, jen, coury, emily, kendi. 

who are your favorite bloggers?

do you value authenticity?

i would love to hear...

{image found here.}

back in the saddle.

wiley wears:

turtleneck: gap

trousers: anthropologie

flats: dolce vita

hair bow: julie mollo (on loan from amy)

     tonight's swap was beyond awesome.  i walked away with a ton of great pieces which will surely grace the blog soon.  ladies, if you have not been to a swapaholics swap yet you need to go!  i saw so many fabulous designer pieces in every size and color.  beyond the clothing, the best part may have been chatting with some of my favorite boston bloggers.  always love catching up with the girls that inspire me.

    i had been dying to wear this new pair of trousers as soon as my 20x20 challenge ended, so i knew that i would have to wear them on my first day back.  i love the paperbag style and i know they will be super versatile throughout all four seasons.  (oh, anthropolgie, you always keep me coming back for more.)  i wanted to keep the focus on the pants and went with very simple and streamlined black for the rest of the outfit.  i really love the way the look came together.  these trousers were my first non-thrift/non-vintage purchase in awhile and it felt good to be back in the saddle.

style spotlight: leather skirts.

i have to admit that i own very little leather.  i never felt quite edgy enough to pull it off, but some of these street style photos have me rethinking the leather skirt.  there is something so wearable and so structured about these pieces.  i especially love the first image.  the color is aboslutely perfect.

what's your take on the leather skirt?

{images found here.}

what my remix taught me.

     twenty pieces and twenty outfits later i am finished and excited to take a second look at all of the oufits that have been sitting in my closets since last year.  it definitely felt like a challenge to me and i can't say that i would race to be the first to start another remixing challenge. (maybe over the summer?)  i do have to admit that i did learn a lot about my own personal style through the challenge and i have a few tips to share with you.

• accessories are what makes an outfit.  tights, scarves, belts and jewelry can take an outfit to a whole other level.  if it hadn't been for the small pieces i was able to play with a number of my outfits would have been very very boring.  invest in great accessories and you cannot go wrong.
• bright patterns are essential to a well-rounded wardrobe.  i originally thought that my white tee would be the most worn top i choose, but in the end i wore my floral tee and plaid button-down far more.  a top with multiple colors gives you the ability to remix it with various other pieces.
• my favorite colors to use as neutrals; gray and mustard.  both of these colors go with everything and right now there are so many great pieces everywhere in both shades.
• the maxi trend is the perfect trend for winter.  find those long skirts and dresses from the summer and reimagine them with cardigans, tights and lots of belts.
• combining mismatched pieces can make the perfect outfit.  during this challenge i wore a sweatshirt with a pencil skirt and a silk dress with moto boots.  these are the kinds of combinations that set you apart and make your closet seem a whole lot larger.

   i hope these tips are helpful to those of you in that winter wardrobe slump!

back to my closet and i am pumped about getting dressed tomorrow.  i hope to see you at the swap tomorrow night!  if you haven't bought a ticket yet, get there!

20x20 challenge finale.

wiley wears:

sweatshirt: madewell

top (bottom layer): h&m

flower pin: anthropologie

corduroys: j.crew

brogues: miss me

     the twentieth and final outfit of my 20x20 holiday challenge!  so happy to have the challenge over, and while i learned a lot, i think it will be quite awhile before i decide to undertake another remixing challenge.  my last outfit was a perfectly casual ensemble for my mlk day off of work.  i wanted to dress up my sweatshirt a bit, so i added this lovely flower pin (on loan from care) and layered it over my floral h&m top.  the mustard corduroys picked up the subtle mustard flowers in the top and my brogues finished off the outfit. 

    i will have a total roundup posted tonight and will be back to reguarly scheduled posts on thursday evening.

thanks to lin for taking so many photos for me!

nineteenth nervous breakdown.

wiley wears:

tee: american apparel

pashmina: vintage

sweater: vintage

corduroys: j.crew

boots: jacibos

belt: vintage

     last year all of my favorite bloggers went crazy over the belted pashmina.  i really loved the trend because i have such an enormous collection of pashminas and scarves that work perfectly to create just the right look.  it's such a great way to spice up a dull outfit.  it even makes this white tee and corduroy combination look put together.  these corduroys came in handy throughout my challenge and i think i really embraced their versatility.  who would have thought mustard could be versatile?  now i just look at it as another neutral.
     my last post of the challenge will come tomorrow afternoon and tomorrow night i will have a post summing up my experience and the tips i learned that i think will be helpful for you and your own wardrobe. 

eighteenth avenue.

wiley wears:

tee: american apparel

chambray shirt: old navy

skirt: target

tights: american apparel

boots: sperry

scarf: borrowed from lin

     i really liked this outfit because of how simple it was to take one dressier item and create a completely casual outfit.  i love my lace skirt and always believe that tights are a better option on snowy days.  tights give you the ability to wear snowboots with ease and i find them to be a lot warmer as well.  i've also been loving wearing this chambray top unbuttoned and open over tees to create a more cardigan-like look.  i think it all came together well and after i took this outfit off i swore that this skirt would get a long rest.

at seventeen.

wiley wears:

top: h&m

shorts: old navy

sweater: vintage

tights: f21

brogues: miss me

     outfit seventeen and it was a day spent indoors.  the cold weather has been making it rather difficult to take outdoor pictures and sometimes you just have to shoot inside.  this was my attempt at bringing a springy feeling into the coldest days of winter.  i wanted to pair my bright floral top with my mustard tights and thought these chambray shorts would be perfect to showcase the bright tights.  the rest of my day off will be spent in sweats enjoying the thought of another four-day work week.

sweet little sixteen.

wiley wears:

tee: american apparel

sweater: vintage

necklace: anthropologie

jeans: bdg

boots: sperry

     okay, my friends, the challenge is officially over.  so now i just need to get these last four posts up.  i may do two 'wiley wears' posts a day for today and tomorrow to get them out of the way.  i am excited to get back to my closet!  i wore this outfit last night out to head over to a friends house for the football game followed by a big dinner with my friends at a local favorite of ours.  i wanted something super comfortable for lounging on the sofa and my classic white tee and jeans combo has been one of the easiest to go to during this 20x20 challenge.  i added my cable-knit sweater for extra warmth and this amazing necklace from anthropologie for a pop of color.  caroline has been sweet enough to lend me the necklace on an as-needed basis (and she knows that i pretty much always need it.  i dream about it.  no, seriously, i do.)  so prepare for a post a little later on, folks.

  i hope most of you are enjoying a lovely day off.