Peeping

I love to look through all of the street-style photos, since they're usually more practical than your usual editorial.
So what am I loving right now?

Long skirts, sheer tops, architectural clothing, black and white and grey, tribal prints, quirky details and accentuated waists.
It's almost finals week/winter break. Time for a closet clean out!

Photos thanks to Street Peeper: Paris  

Super-Find

While I'm a regular creeper on sites such as Rue-la-la and Ideeli, I very rarely buy anything. There's just something about the ability to try it on that keeps me going back to the sample sales in NY, even if they are a bit more hectic.

So I'm very excited to find that there is a permanent home for sample sales here in NY.

 Clothing Line is located at 261 W. 36th street, and has continually changing sample sale merchandise. The beauty of this is that instead of chasing down sample sales all over Manhattan, I can just keep visiting the same store on my way back from work. Perfect.
Their current sale is Theory, starting Tuesday at 10 am, which is one of my favorite brands. Also upcoming in December are Tory Burch (meh), Free People, and Tocca (yay!).
I haven't yet stopped by, but just looking at their site it seems promising. I will definitely be stopping by this week for Christmas shopping of course! One for my dears, and one for me : )

Ten

I'm not going to lie that I'm a little envious of those girls that have the perfect capsule wardrobe: ten pieces lined up on a single rolling rack.
Unfortunately, living in the North East the weather doesn't quite cooperate for such a wardrobe, and being young I'm still experimenting and playing with new trends.

But if I wasn't broiling in the summer and freezing in the winter, and I was more settled into my style, my perfect capsule wardrobe would be:

Ballet Flats

Black Heels

White Blouse

Jeans

White T-shirt

Black Blazer

Black Skirt

Cardigan

Black Dress

Trench Coat

Of course, supplementing all of this with belts, scarves, and jewelery.

If I'm being honest with myself I realize that I might quickly become bored with only ten items in my closet.

Minimalism is definitely an aesthetic and philosophy that is very disciplined, and perhaps when I'm older and more settled in my skin and style I would attempt to go fully minimalist.

At the moment however I'll keep my style and wardrobe merely pared down, but I feel like making this list is a good exercise to remind myself of what is actually necessary.



Etsy Love

While I might not have made my wish list yet, I know that I'm starting to think of what to get for my nearest and dearest on my list.
There are plenty of gift lists out there for your perusal (most retailers have already put together one by now).

But on my gift list I wanted to feature the talented folks over at Etsy (and bonus: they're all under $50, with most of them under $15. That's what we broke college kids call impress for less).
So lend a hand to the little guys and be kind to your wallet this year, because remember, it's not the money but the time that you spend on each gift that counts.

The Gourmet

Gourmet Popcorn Spice Kit

Holiday French Macaroon Sampler

The Beauty Junkie

Woodsmoke and Vanilla Sugar-Cube Body Scrub

Coconut Chai Hair Nectar

The Geek

Marooned on Mongo Pillows

Geek Clock

The Romantic

Paris Je T'aime

Lavender Scented Stationery

The Jock

Personalized Basketball Player Wall Decal

Defense

The Fashionista

Body Chain, Vol. 4

Moonstone Tear Drop Necklace

The Baby

"Candy" Rabbit Plushie

ASL "I love you" Teething Toy

Thanksgiving: Dinner

Comfort and class are the two qualities that I'm looking for in a Thanksgiving dinner outfit.

Our thanksgiving dinner tends to be a bit fancier than most, probably just because of the situation.
We don't have any family on the East coast so my family has dinner with several other "stranded" families at our South African friends' house. She is an absolutely fabulous cook with a to-die-for British accent, but she always puts on extravagant affairs and can't seem to entertain less than thirty people at a time.

So I was thinking of something slinky and a tad retro for this year. I refuse to wear anything with a waist (to hide that inevitable food baby from too many slices of chocolate pecan pie) and a cozy cardigan will be perfect for cuddling up on the couch in a post-dinner stupor.

dinner by erind90 featuring fishnet tights

Wonder Woman Gets Her Nails Done Too

Here's what's playing on my ipod lately.
I think that it's definitely a little reminder that all of us could use once in a while.

Wonder Woman by Frankmusik

Thanksgiving: Football Game

The annual Thanksgiving day football game in my town is a tradition.

It's always our town versus the neighboring rival town, and everyone shows up to cheer the guys on.
While I'm not much of a sports fan, I do appreciate the social aspect.

So what's necessary? Something cute and warm (and muck and snow resistant).

Football by erind90 featuring black knee high boots

Of course, my sisters tease me mercilessly for "dressing so fancy". True, but at this point I feel that if I didn't, people in my town would think something was wrong with me.

And there's nothing wrong dressing up for a football game. I'm warm and cozy, and it's not as if they're going to ask me to run out on the field and play quarterback anytime soon.

Although, that's not saying it wouldn't be an improvement to the sport.