style scout: friday date night.

1. cable knit mini dress, cheetah print belt and heels, leather clutch

2. vintage navy blazer, plaid top, skinny jeans, structured rucksack

3. red pleated skirt, white camisole, nude blazer, cheetah print loafers

4. structured mini, loose cotton tee, silver beaded necklace, ankle boots

5. leather bomber, white tee, neutral maxi skirt, vintage leather tote

     fall is the one season that i think i love being in love the most. i adore both ends of the autumn spectrum; cozy nights indoors and exciting outdoor adventures.  walking around the city on fall evenings is the absolute best, so i thought it only made sense to pick some outfits for my favorite fall activity.  friday date nights.  after a long week of work it feels great to throw on something a little extra special and hit up a local favorite spot for dinner and wine.

     i wanted to pick looks that could easily transition from a day at the office to a night on the town.  each of these outfits could evolve from day to night with the right shoes or accessories.  i lean towards more feminine pieces for nights out with jeb, so skirts and dresses are a must.  i will admit that the second look has me inspired to try some dressier looks with jeans.

wily wiley reads.

 

how to buy a love of reading by tanya egan gibson ::: this novel tells the story of an awkward high school girl who's parents decide that as a show of wealth and privilege they will buy their daughter her very own work of fiction.  carley's parents hire a young writer to figure out why carley doesn't like to read and make a book that conforms to her every interest and whim.  gibson's novel goes on to describe, in great detail, the fabulous and troubled lives of society's elite, and how knowledge can be used as a tool of wealth. 

i picked this book up at an office book swap a few months ago and was warned that it was being given away because it was a nearly impossible read.  (the sentences are long, the characters quite unlikeable and the attempts at telling a fluid story are sometimes lacking.)  i have to agree with most of these ascertains, but in the end i did find myself connecting to two of the main characters..although it did feel too late in the game to really change my mind after abhorring these same two characters for the most of the book. 

the solitude of prime numbers by pablo giordano ::: another novel about teen angst and another book i was warned i may find depressing.  in this novel's sadness was a great deal of beauty.  the book begins with chapters describing the events that stunt mattia and alice's psychological growth and ability to connect with others.  jumping ahead to their awkward teenage years, mattia and alice become close friends, forming an alliance over their childhood experiences.  the novel follows the two from childhood to adulthood and explores the way the two characters can never escape their circumstances.  giordano's background in mathematics shines through the novel, as mattia is a mathematical genius, but it never became too abstract for a 'words girl' like me.  i really enjoyed this novel and though giordano did a wonderful job of fleshing out the two main characters so that the reader feels their shared pain.

what are you reading?

street fair.

wiley wears:

dress: uo

bandeau: f21

scarf: vintage

sandals: madewell

     today felt like my official last day of summer.  there was a street fair in my neighborhood and for some reason each year feels like a personal farewell to the warm weather.  we sat in an open-air cafe and drank beers while we listened to music and watched a pretty strange puppet show.  now i'm taking the opportunity to stay in and bake some banana bread and cook an italian feast for dinner.  fall is upon us and i am ready for the cooler weather coming this week.

     i wanted to be comfortable today, but i also wanted to wear something that i knew would stay hanging in the closet until the warm days of spring next year.  i thought this cotton and lace shift dress would be the perfect choice.  i love this mauve shade and paired with a gray bandeau it was great for walking through the crowed street fair.  in this muggy weather, vintage scarves have been my savior.  they keep my hair dry and out of my face all day and make it easy to run out of the house on a lazy sunday.  sunglasses and a tote completed the outfit for a day of grabbing freebies and sampling delicious foods.

style scout: bonfires.

1. vintage pendleton sweater, black trousers, loafers, cross-body bag

2. breton striped tee, khaki trench coat, skinny jeans, oxfords

3. color-blocked sweater, jeans, biker boots, oversized purse

4. thin striped tee, worn ripped jeans, thick hiking socks, boots

5. cotton cardigan tee, and scarf, high-waisted khakis, sneakers

     with the fall comes my favorite evening activity.  bonfires.  i have so many great memories of bonfires, both in the city and back at home, and i often find myself at a loss for what to wear.  that mix of style and comfort is important for late night hangouts by the fire.

     after scouting my favorite sites for inspiration i think i found that comfortable cotton tees and sweaters with a favorite pair of denim is the best combination.  pendleton sweaters are such classic pieces and a breton striped tee will never go out of style.  bonfire season is all about wearing the pieces that make you feel cozy and warm during those perfect crisp nights.

     this search has left me craving some spiked apple cider!

wily wiley reads.

the art of racing in the rain by garth stein :::  i would not describe myself as a 'dog person.'  don't get me wrong, i love dogs, especially duncan and molly, but i typically don't pick up novels about dogs, and most definitely not novels told from the perspective of a dog.  i absolutely loved this book.  it was equal parts sweet and funny and equal parts sad and thoughtful.  stein does an incredible job of writing through the eyes of enzo, the lovable pet of the swift family.  i may never look at a dog the same way again. (i compare these feelings to those i felt after reading watership down.)  i encourage anyone who is an animal lover to pick this book up.  i don't want to give away a second of this sweet read.

everything changes by jonathan tropper ::: my obsession with jonathan tropper continues.  by the end of fall i will have completed all of his novels and i can already see that i will be left craving more.  i see that tropper is often compared to nick hornby, and i do agree with this to a certain extent, although i think that tropper is quite a bit more witty, and says the things that hornby never would.  if you are a hornby fan, i would say give tropper a try.  everything changes sticks to what tropper is great at; telling the story of a messed-up man in his early thirties.  zack king's life is crumbling around him and hilarious hijinks ensue.  zack's family and best friends are one hysterical cast of characters who keep the laughs coming, but still feel very relatable because they each face their own struggles.  i fell in love with zack like i do with each of tropper's main characters.  his struggles and triumphs are told through a voice that sounds so much like someone i've known my entire life.  if you aren't on the tropper bandwagon yet, it's time.

jean jacket.

wiley wears:

blouse: vintage

jean jacket: gap

trousers: madewell

necklace: beach shop

flats: thom browne

     a quick post before we head out for shabu shabu.  i've been in love with this 'so-ugly-it's-pretty' blouse since the day i found it.  i love the bright reds and magentas and thought, why not top it off with more pink and coral?  i added this beaded necklace and used black pants and flats to ground the outfit.  adding a jean jacket has been a go-to since this fall weather began.  long live the jean jacket!

the truth about leggings.

wiley wears:

sweater: vivienne tam

vest: old navy

necklace: anthropologie

leggings: american apparel

purse: steve madden

flats: thom browne

     this weekend provided the much-needed rest and relaxation i was longing for.  all summer we were away almost every weekend, so the fall has been much looked forward to.  i have a lot of weekends coming up in the city and i'm looking forward to spending time with my friends, finalizing the decor of our new place and sleeping in.  

    today i spent a few hours hanging art and photographs with caroline and then we headed out for a walk to do photos.  i have to admit that leggings are still an integral part of my weekend wardrobe.  as long as i have a top that goes mid-thigh, i think they work just as well as black skinny jeans.  the cargo vest has become my early fall staple and my new bag will now be attached to my shoulder.

happy weekend.

mostly because i couldn't resist showing you a few more photos from last weekend in new hampshire.

now we're off to spend the weekend with one of our very favorite people.

(okay, two, because we get to have brunch with nana tomorrow!)

happy weekend!

style scout: sunday brunch with girlfriends.

1. blush tank, blush pleated maxi, neutral flats, feminine beige tote

2. bold floral mini dress, bright belt, matching leather bag, and aviators

3. color-blocking, peter pan collared tank, mini skirt, blazer and pointy flats

4. solid dress with full skirt, floral cardigan, ballet flats and carry-all

5. chambray top, olive cargo vest, sequined skirt and leopard wedges

     sunday brunch has to be one of my all time favorite activities.  i especially love getting a little dressed up, mostly now that my saturday nights have become quite a bit more mild.  it's nice to utilize the whole day, and getting gussied up is a great way to start the day.  above i have five looks that inspire me to put in the extra effort this coming weekend.  i love that brunch is an occasion where anything goes, and the photos above show that there are no rules.  c'mon, sequins, leopard and a cargo vest!?  i think i'm in love.

what's your favorite brunch ensemble?

east coast corvettes.

wiley wears:

tee: vintage

shorts: f21

panama hat: uo

     going along with the chill vibe of the weekend, this was probably my favorite outfit.  i wore this for our day at the seafood festival and later to frolick and do gymnastics with my sister on the beach.  jeb found this shirt while thrifting, and lucky for me, it was too small and perfectly my size.  this is my shout out to jeb's dad, john, since he's our resident corvette man.  i like to tuck my tees into these higher waisted shorts to pull the look together a little more.  the day really didn't call for much more than a panama hat, sunnies and barefeet.

     thanks paige and nathan for taking such fun photos.  you two are my favorite photographers!

wily wiley reads.

one day by david nicholls ::: the novel that everyone has been talking about.  i read this after lin texted me over and over again as she read, completely in love with the book.  i have to say that i really did love this novel, and especially the way nicholls writes about the same date each day for twenty years.  it gives a great perspective on emma and dexter, the book's protagonists.  i'll admit that for the first few chapters i felt as though i had a lot in common with emma.  (i later came to realize she is a much better person than i am. ha.)  the way the conversation between these two very different individuals evolves over two decades is beautiful and well thought out.  i think nicholls did a great job of writing from dual perspectives while showing the changes of one's personality as they move through their lives.  this is a love story, a comedy, and mostly, a type of tragic tale.  i would liken this to 'when harry met sally,' but with more heart and a little less curly hair.

who will run the frog hospital? by lorrie moore ::: do i admit when i really didn't enjoy a book?   i think since this is my personal forum, i can be honest.  i didn't love this book.  i didn't stop reading it either, but my feelings are still up in the air.  i found moore's writing to be a bit to descriptive and i left the book without either having any real feelings about either of the main characters.  perhaps if i had similar experiences to the two teenage girls the novel focuses on, my feelings may be different.  in general i found the storyline to be disconnected: a grown woman in paris realizes her marriage is a failure and remembers the days she spent with her wild bestfriend in her teens.  i don't think i quite understood how one brought up the other.  i will say that i loved the references to a place called storyland, which sounds a heck of a lot like storyland in new hampshire.

what have you read lately?

fishing at sunset.

wiley wears:

top: thrifted

vest: old navy

scarf: vintage

shorts: borrowed from paige

toms: borrowed from paige

     this week will begin my regularly scheduled postings.  back to 'wiley wears' posts, and after doing a few shots this weekend, i realized how much i missed doing them.  having a push to put that extra little 'something' into an outfit makes all the difference.  this weekend was all about casual dress.  my sister and her boyfriend came to new hampshire to celebrate nate's 30th birthday and we did a lot of relaxing and celebrating.

     the highlight of the weekend was probably the seafood festival where we consumed absurd amounts of lobster and fried oreos.  other highlights were a giant cookout, a walk on the beach with my sister and one giant peanut butter chocolate torte.  i opted to throw a few things in my bag on my way out the door on friday.  needless to say, when we arrived i realized i had very little to make into outfits.  yesterday i decided to borrow paige's rolled denim shorts and toms and threw on a loose striped tee and vest.  add a vintage scarf and sunnies and i was ready to watch the boys fish as the sun set.

style scout: rainy autumn days.

1. olive anorak, floral dress, bright leather bag, statement heels

2. classic trench, knit beanie, button-up, cropped jeans, loafers

3. red trench, nautical striped top, skinny jeans, hunter wellies

4. black trench, tights and booties, ruffled top, olive a-line skirt

5. anorak, chunky knit cardigan, light scarf, cuffed jeans, oxfords

     for this week's 'style scout' it seemed only appropriate to scour the internet for some great rainy day inspiration.  i, like most, i imagine, have an incredibly time finding the perfect mix of fashion and functionality on dreary wet days.  as fall quickly heads our way, i know that new england will be seeing it's fair share of cool misty weather, and i couldn't help myself but to find a few ladies who get dreary day form and function perfectly.  

     while wellies, trenches and umbrellas are quite essential, the above photos show a few unique ideas for preparing for the soggy streets.  i especially love the mix of classic outerwear.  a trench and an anorak are the perfect staple jackets....one wonderful for more casual looks and the other which pulls almost any outfit together.

{side note ::: all images are linked on the description line.  the last photo comes from my absolute favorite street style blog, urban weeds.  if you haven't seen lisa warninger's amazing photographs of truly stylish and real people, head there now.  for all those men constantly saying there is no great inspiration for men's style online, this is your fix.}