~ let's hear it for the boy ~

I've loved menswear as long as I can remember - walking into my grandfather's closet and seeing his suits on one side, and what seemed like 100 blue shirts that were only slightly different on the other, and all of his shoes, lined up neatly on a shelf underneath had a profound impact on my sartorial education.  Diane Keaton, Marlene Dietrich, Frida Kahlo, Cary Grant, equestrian wear from the '30s, etc., etc.  Classic tailored lines, broad shoulders, mismatched ties, vests, pocket squares, cuff links - I love it all.

This winter, I think I've worn a dress twice and that was only because all of my pants were in the wash (and it was 70 degrees), so I think it's safe to say I've entered a new era of my personal style.

{button up: Old Navy / striped shirt: Ralph Lauren via goodwill / blazer: Target / jeans: Gap}

I've spent the last week scouring Etsy, ebay, and Pinterest for vintage ties and riding pants, only furthering my obsession and making all my clothes seem boring and too feminine for my taste.  So if anyone has a velvet top hat or a three-piece tweed suit, I'd be happy to take them off your hands! 

xoxo,

Eliza

~ plaid perfection ~

Do you ever find a vintage piece hanging in a shop that you're convinced will change your life and you hold your breath while trying it on and it actually FITS?  Cause that happened last week, and let me tell you, it feels awesome.

I wore it to class yesterday and felt like Barbie: College Edition.

It's a testament to my incredible self control that I haven't worn it every single day.

xoxo,

Eliza

~ from russia with love ~

Okay, that's it...thanks to From Russia With Love, my James Bond obsession has resurfaced.

Though I could do without the blatant sexism and objectification of every single woman in the film, and I could really do without the opening credits (oh my god, the opening credits), Tatiana Romanova's style has certainly crept into my wardrobe and hair+makeup over the last few days.

{gap pants, gap flats, target sweater, target rain coat}

Since it's been gloomy and rainy for the past three days, I've done nothing but eat cinnamon bread, bake cookies, and go to an insane number of holiday parties.  Now it's not exactly chasing down Russian spies and making out with 007, but I'll take it!

Dressing like a Bond girl?  Absolutely.  Being a Bond girl?  No thanks.  

I'd like to survive past the first half hour of the movie.

xoxo,

Eliza

~ thomasville ~

Whew!  This past week has been a blur.  Classes monday/wednesday/friday, a presentation in oceanography, several reflections and and a few summaries due in art history.  Netflix was replaced by note cards, multitasking was perfected, and I'm more than positive the crazy amount of information I've packed into my head has caused the slew of weird dreams I've had over the past few nights.

Taking all that into account I figured I deserved a day off, so yesterday my mama and I headed to Thomasville!

{sifting through ridiculously expensive sheets of paper that I don't need}

We ate, we shopped, we got stuck for ten minutes when a train was passing through town...

Not a bad way to spend a study break.

xoxo,
Eliza

~ 19 ~

Since I spent my birthday weekend sick, I figured I deserved to spread out the celebrations over the whole week.  And that's just what I've done!

Multiple cups of tea, good food, lots of painting, watching Netflix, reading, hot baths, wearing pajamas until noon, and eating lots of chocolate.  Unfortunately life doesn't recognize my birthday week as a national holiday so I still have my classes, but as soon as I have time off for the holidays I'm going to finish my celebrations with some hiking and a beach trip!

Until then, it's been pancakes for breakfast...

wearing my new birthday shoes...

Wearing my new blazer (that's already become a staple in my closet)...

And watching lots of Doctor Who (like, an embarrassing amount of Doctor Who).

Until healthier times!

xoxo,

Eliza

~ black and white ~

Lately my wardrobe has been devoid of color.  Blame the grey weather, blame the busy mornings that cut into my dressing time, blame the lack of outfit inspiration, etc., etc...

But there's something very simple about black and white that appeals to me - perhaps it's because you can get dressed with your eyes closed and still look put together, or maybe it's the vaguely french vibe that one gives off when sticking to a limited color palate.

(or maybe because it makes my life goal of being a swanky french spy in a 1960s movie even more achievable)

{details of yesterday's outfit)

Whatever the reason, I'm perfectly okay with it.

{today's outfit: gap t-shirt, jeans, and ballet flats, target blazer}

The one exception to my new monochromatic phase is lipstick - yesterday it was bright red, today it was bright pink!

By adding a little color, maybe this weather will take a hint.

xoxo,

Eliza

~ cigarette pants ~

I love cigarette pants.  They're the perfect mix of dressy and casual.  But because my measurements are ridiculously difficult, I haven't yet purchased any vintage ones for fear of them not fitting just right - I'd hate to have a beautiful pair of vintage pants in my closet and be able to do nothing but stare longingly at them.

So for now, I'll make do with modern styles!

{I was going for a look that was a little bit beatnik, a smidge of Katherine Hepburn, and a whole lot of French librarian}

I've found that both Gap and Target have good (and affordable) styles, but unfortunately they aren't high waisted.  I'd love to find a red pair, or better yet, polkadotted!

{Audrey Hepburn rocks the monochrome look}

{Sandra Dee prefers leopard print}

The foolproof sweater+cigarette pants+ballet flats combo is great when you want to feel pulled together but don't have a lot of time on your hands...

So it's time to search the thrift shops, vintage clothing stores, and my favorite etsy shops for that perfect pair of pants!  I know they're out there somewhere...

xoxo,

Eliza

~ suit up ~

My favorite piece of vintage is coincidentally the first piece I ever purchased.  A gray wool 1950s suit straight from vintage heaven.

When I bought it, there were a few small moth holes but they eventually got worse.  I spent the last few nights carefully repairing all the holes and now it's as good as new!

{one of the invisible patches - can you see it?}

After working at an event at a local museum, my mom and I went out to lunch and visited a few favorite thrift shops.  A perfect day!

{and a perfectly pink sunset}

Stay warm everyone!

xoxo,

Eliza

~ little things ~

01. stripes, leather, fur, and red lipstick.

02. picking out an outfit for tomorrow's new year's eve celebrations

03. interesting sights on my walk around the neighborhood

04. hanging up a world map in my room to remind me of how much I have yet to explore 

05. beautiful words from Carson McCuller's The Member of the Wedding

06. a joyous NYE photo from the 1940s

07. if I had to sum up 2013 in one word, it would be exploration.  How I started the year is very different from how I'm ending it.  People departed from my life, people came into my life - some staying longer than others.  I learned lots of valuable lessons, lost battles, found out that someone wasn't who I thought they were, broke down, and then picked myself back up.  I explored my creative side and found out that it's the side I'm most comfortable with. 

 I'm different person.  But change is good.  Here's to another year of lessons, triumphs, new relationships, strong friendships, new opportunities, and an abundant supply of hope.

xoxo,

Eliza