Celebrations

Is it odd that I'm looking forward to the week, if only because I'll finally get to rest and relax a bit? This weekend was a lovely blur of birthdays and basketball games and sangria and hors d'oeuvres, but if I don't get a full night's sleep sometime soon, I'm going to self-destruct. Still, it was nice to spend so much time in downtown Chicago, from sipping champagne at Crescendo to dancing at the penthouse of the Swissôtel to, finally, a delicious Sunday evening dinner at Sepia.

I'm never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever going to do this on even a semi-regular basis, but I made my roommate/best friend take a photo of my outfit for formal in our living room, just in case you wanted to see my sartorial choices for the evening: the dress is Armani Exchange and belongs to roommate/bestie, the earrings are Frank Gehry for Tiffany & Co, the shoes are Marc by Marc Jacobs, and the clutch is Kate Spade. People actually thought I brought a book to formal...and sadly, they didn't even seem surprised.

Say Yes...

...Yes to rumpled sheets and lazy mornings.

Yes to formal at the top of the Swissôtel in Chicago.

Yes to frivolity and cupcakes.

Yes to the ever so elegant Carine Roitfeld.

Yes to my Sony Vaio dying of an evil little virus...

...but only because it did so on the day Apple introduced the new Macbook Pros.

So, yes to my new Macbook Pro.

Yes to my mom, whom I miss the most when I'm at school.

[photo cred to Alicia Vogue via Musings in Femininity]

Snip Snip

Have you seen Jennifer Aniston's new haircut, the grown-out bob? It makes me want to pick up the scissors and do terrible things. My hair is the longest it's been since seventh grade, when I chopped it into a pixie cut after a particularly devastating Valentine's Day dance, and now I'm itching for something like this. It looks so fresh and ten times more youthful than the classic bob, and I love how beautifully it frames her face. If I were to do it, I'd definitely need some side-bangs action, à la Heidi — mostly because I wouldn't know what to do with my hands if I wasn't constantly brushing my hair out of my face. 

What do you think of Jen's new do? (Allure interviewed her hairstylist, Chris McMillan, here if you're interested in knowing more).

[photo cred to 1, 2]

Au Naturel

I've wanted to post this photo from The Sartorialist for the longest time, but I didn't want to slap it up and say "This is my girl crush" before returning to the depths of my lair to study and eat half a wheel of Brie. This picture actually produced one of the few moments that I've wished away my dark olive skin and Asian features, because neither tend to look good with honey blonde hair. Her hair color becomes a part of the outfit itself, which I loved so much that I recreated it below (in the event that you've developed a similar girl crush).

I think it's the wedge boots that really do it for me — they're a little utilitarian and completely adorable (I've had it bad for this J. Crew pair for the longest time). I thought about switching in a bright color for one of the pieces, but I think it would ruin the look for me. I really like the monochromatic palette and the way that it gives me a new way to wear one of my most beloved neutrals ever, camel. The textures alone are amazing: fur, knit, denim, and suede. Does it get any softer? And a coffee-hued leather messenger bag on top of it?! I'm a goner:

Roll Edge pullover | calypsostbarth.com

Michael Michael Kors Zip-up rabbit vest | net-a-porter.com

Earnest Sewn Decca cigarette leg jean | amrag.com

J.Crew Suede wedge ankle boots | net-a-porter.com

Cole Haan Marisa messenger handbag | piperlime.gap.com

Chanel CC Rope earrings | aloharag.com

A Little Citrus

Everyone loves to hate on the color orange (to be fair, it isn't exactly the most flattering shade), but it looks so good against a clean black and white palette. Plus, Hermès couldn't have chosen this iconic hue for nothing — it's bright, cheerful, and makes me think of nice, sparkling mimosa.


[photo cred to 1 via That Kind of Woman and 2]

Paradisiaque

A little escape now and then should be mandatory. So should this Diane Von Furstenberg bikini.

This weekend, I watched l'Auberge Espagnole, a French film with Audrey Tatou, and decided that for my last quarter at Northwestern, it is entirely necessary to take a class called Intro to Painting. I hope my parents understand — then again, I'm graduating with a B.A. in English Literature and a minor in Drinking Tea and Correcting Everyone's Grammar, so it's becoming increasingly difficult to alarm them at this point.

I also wrote a guest post for Long Distance Loving; Alison is one of my favorite bloggers and quite possibly the sweetest person on the planet. Head on over if you'd like to see my spring picks for New York (home) and Chicago (home away from home)(until June)(crying)(freaking out about the future)(guh!)(and now job-hunting)(crying some more)(scrambling for my stash of dark chocolate with almonds)(calming down)(breathing). Phew.

Anyway, how was your weekend?!

[photo cred to 1 and 2]

Say Yes...

...Yes to rising temperatures.

Yes to blueberry waffles and bright Saturday breakfasts.

Yes to downtown Chicago...

...and to shopping on Michigan Avenue.

Yes to hysterically bad analogies.

Yes to Northwestern walloping Iowa last night...

...although let's be real, Iowa's basketball team kind of stinks...

...and I don't know anything about sports.

Yes to a sparkling, sunlit Friday.

[Photo cred to 1 via Musings in Femininity]