mellifera

On J:

shirt:: thrifted

pants:: I actually don't remember. I don't think they were thrifted though.

shoes:: Target

bag:: vintage Coach

Autumn of hats

This was definitely a summer of hats for me. It only follows that this will be an autumn of hats. I foresee many bowlers in my future. And berets. So many berets.

Here is Ms Ivy Lou Toodles, modeling my camel beret.

A meaningless update? Perhaps. Everything is relative.

the aftermath!

When I woke up this morning, it was almost shocking to see the bright sun and a cloudless sky. Perfect picture day!



On J:

shirt:: thrifted
shorts:: thrifted
bag:: H&M
shoes:: thrifted

hurricane Irene

Hello! I haven't been posting that much. School has started and there's been a lot of hype for all kinds of natural disasters. (first a wildfire, then earthquake, then hurricane, and now we're under tornado watch).

I grew up minutes from the mid-atlantic coast so I'm no stranger to hurricanes, but this one's quite a doozy, despite its category 1 status. Here are some photos from the enormous oak tree that came down about 20 minutes ago (sorry for crappy phone quality).



See how the sidewalk came up? (!)
The power's flickering on and off, but I think it won't really be too bad.
I'd love updates from any other east coasters sticking this out. Everyone stay safe!

public health

So I went to the medical school orientation today. After 8 months of not being in college, it was kind of a wake up call. I've spent the last 8 months at an easy internship and a low responsibility job, dressing up every day, my notebooks collecting dust. All of a sudden I have things to do again. And by a certain time.


My undergrad studies were in International Health and French. I minored in Italian. I took exactly one biology class and one statistics class (against my will).

All of a sudden I'm registered for classes in biostatistics and epidemiology and I just have no idea what to expect. Should I bring a calculator to the first day of class?? I'm used to writing papers about social issues in French. I feel like I'm stepping into a completely different world and I'm really really nervous.

On J:

shirt:: thrifted
scarf:: inherited
trousers:: thrifted
shoes:: vintage
bag:: H&M

lara croft

I really didn't mean to look like Lara Croft today.



These things happen.




When I bought this leotard I didn't think about the fact that I wouldn't be able to wear a bra with it, which is the reason this is the first time I've worn it after having bought it 6 months ago. I'm not exactly small-chested, but I don't think it looks too terribly unruly.



Belt pouch! LOVE this thing. I thrifted it ages and ages and ages ago, thinking that if I wore it out, people would think I was crazy. Or a pirate. Turns out they're now a trend (???). I have mixed feelings about this development.








I realized I don't really talk about my actual life that much on this blog. Well, I'm starting graduate school next week for Public Health. Since my department is a part of a medical school, I have to attend the orientation for the School of Medicine on Monday.

I was just thinking of all the crazy looks I would get if I showed up to a largely professional/doctoral function in an outfit like this.



On J::

leotard:: American Apparel
shorts:: thrifted
pouch:: thrifted
shoes:: thrifted
earrings:: from a little jewelry boutique in Colonial Williamsburg that I couldn't possibly remember the name of.

a thrift in the life of a thrifter

I go to thrift stores way more often than I have the dignity to admit (this being the reason that almost all of my outfits are 100% second hand). I do in fact have a favorite local thrift store. It lies south of the James and, because it's a bit of a drive from the college polluted scene I call my home, it remains (mostly) unspoiled from the paws of thrift-crazy students (a little hypocritical, I must admit, since I technically am one myself).

Anyway, this place is more like a thrift warehouse, and I easily spend 2-3 hours there every time I go. I'll let these photos speak for what we'll let represent a mere corner of this second-hand storage space.





A portion of the shoe section. Obviously, there are also mountains upon mountains of clothes, but I didn't even know where to begin photographing that.



Check out all those vintage travel bags and luggage! Suitcase heaven.





And one of my favorite sections to peruse, the antique book section. Most of these books date back to the late 19th and early 20th century.









Aaaaand, the grand return: "Oops! I accidentally just spent $30 on out-of-season clothing and tchotchkes!"

lego

Today I kind of just put on random things together, but I actually really like this color scheme. It deeply reminds me of girl's Legos with all the girly pastels.


(exhibit A in the form a Lego necklace from braebrae on Etsy.) :



Anyway, back to the outfit.

On J:

tshirt:: Hanes, cutoff
skirt:: second hand via Rumors Boutique
bag::thrifted
shoes:: thrifted
hat:: thrifted

Robert E. Lee

I mentioned a little while back that I picked up a few pieces at the sidewalk yard sale of an ex-vintage store owner. This is one of the dresses I got. It was around ankle length, but it begged to be a little mini dress, so I shortened and added a little band at the bottom.

The collar is one of my detachable collars. This one I got off Etsy. I can't find the seller since I bought it via a now defunct Etsy account, but I can tell you that it's crocheted and it's lovely!


Richmond is full of enormous monuments. We happen to live right around the corner from this enormous statue of Robert E. Lee (yes, the South) which stands in the middle of a traffic circle.



There's Ben, on the monument!







On J:

dress:: vintage
shoes:: thrifted
bag:: vintage Coach
crochet collar:: handmade, Etsy!

radishes

On J:

top:: thrifted

skirt:: second hand via Rumors Boutique.

ostrich cross-body:: inherited

shoes:: thrifted

red skies at morning

I once claimed that nautical will never die. I must admit, I'm growing sort of sleepy of sailor themed apparel, but I have this problem where I really can't help myself.

This weekend I spent time with Miss Molly May and Miss Ivy Lou Toodles.







You can purchase this top on my etsy shop, Topaz Vintage.

On J:

top:: vintage, available on Topaz Vintage.
skirt:: BDG (UO)
shoes:: Target

to the sea

I've spent a lot of time visiting home this summer. My mother lives 5 minutes from the bay and 10 minutes from the ocean, and yet I've spent shamefully little time on the beach as of yet. I'll let this shell-print dress be an homage- actually, let's let it be an apology- to the sea.



On J:

hat:: inherited
dress:: thrifted
shoes:: thrifted
bag:: vintage military!

birthday part 2

Yesterday was my 23rd birthday! To see my birthday cake and what I wore, scroll down to yesterday's post.
Even though the heat index was well up into the upper 90s, we decided to visit one of my most favorite places in Richmond, Maymont Park . During the summer, Maymont is an oasis plopped into the middle of a scorching city. It features miles of rolling hills, gardens, waterfalls, and (my favorite part), a petting zoo.




It's quite a hike to find the gardens from the petting zoo, but once you do, it's breathtaking.
This time of year, the gardens are bursting with color.









Oh yeah, there's an enormous waterfall (see the people on the right for scale)



A quiet birthday, but a peaceful one.

they say it's your birthday

Today is my birthday! I turned 23 at 8 o'clock this morning.
Long story short, we baked a fabulous aquamarine cake and went to a petting zoo.
I wore a white dress with a purple hat. This is one of the hats I picked up when I was going through my hat frenzy phase (that was misleading; I'm still in the hat phase).




The cake we made was delicious and minty blue.



The insides of the cake were pink and yellow.



On J:

hat:: vintage
dress:: thrifted
belt:: thrifted
shoes:: thrifted vintage!

chalk and awe

This is what I wore today. I didn't wear shoes or have a bag because I didn't go anywhere. I relaxed at my mom's house all day, drinking wine, playing with the dogs, and making chalk art (the perks of having an art teacher mom- lots and lots of chalk).





Ben and I both played hopscotch. I am much better than him. He blames it on his sunburn, but I'd say he has two left feet (he's leaning over my shoulder right now, saying "Why don't you ever say anything nice about me??").














On J:

dress:: thrifted
blouse:: vintage
sunglasses:: Target?? or something.

truck stop

On J:

hat:: inherited
lace collar:: vintage
dress:: thrifted
shoes:: thrifted vintage!
bag:: thrifted