Reading Diana Vreeland

Sometimes after work, I'll dash home and go to the park near my house to read while I still have a little sunlight left. This past week, I devoured the book The Empress of Fashion: A Life of Diana Vreeland by Amanda Mackenzie Stuart. Having read a bunch on fashion, her name always came up but it wasn't until I saw the documentary Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel on Netflix that I was obsessed with her. I needed more. Luckily, my library has a great fashion section in nonfiction which I have been ravenously running through and I quickly grabbed at this book. It didn't let me down either. I finished the darn thing in 3 days - Diana's life was fascinating through and through but what really entertained me was the small history lessons that coincided with her life - she was part of a team that revolutionized magazines to what they are today. She was ahead of her time in many things - fashion, women in the work force, fashion journalism, fitness - but I think the thing I loved most was being inspired by what inspired her. Her colleagues and friends always talked about how she was constantly looking, watching, regarding and assessing everything. She was always looking for beauty and logging away these little bits into the back of her mind to pull out later and use. 

I feel like I can really relate to that. I love people-watching because I'm always picking out something beautiful about the way a person carries themselves, how they styled an outfit or their hair. Not to mention just looking out the window on the bus ride to work - Singapore is so beautiful with a fantastic blend of different cultures (who still wear their traditional dress out and about), new and old architecture, greenery everywhere and bright, bold colors. 

What inspires you? Read any inspiration books lately? 

Skirt: Goodwill | Shirt: New2U | Belt: Target | Sunglasses: Modcloth
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Souvenirs

This is one of my favorite outfits I've worn in a long time - it's so colorful and fun and has so many great details. To make it even more fun, each piece is from a different country!

I got the dress for $6 at a resale consignment shop called Uptown Cheapskate in the States - similar to a Plato's Closet where they will only resell things that are from certain store or of a certain style. While the hunt from a regular thrift store or Goodwill is fun, it's sometimes nice to just go through a whole rack of incredible deals and know most of them are trendy enough to take out the guess work. I particularly love the lace detail on this dress - the straps on the shoulders and then the lace panels on the sides. And what a great color combination - mint and navy! 

The hot pink scarf I got in Cambodia. We went on a tour outside the city of Phnom Penh with Grasshopper Adventures - I highly recommend them! We biked on an island in the Mekong Delta and got to take in all the sights - mango trees, farm animals, the children running along side us yelling "Hello! Hello!" Our guide was amazing and she took us a silk farm where we got to see how they make the silk from beginning to end. And of course, go shopping for silk products! 

The earrings I purchases on a trip to the cloud forest in Mindo, Ecuador while studying aboard there. An Ecuadorian woman had the cutest little cafe where she made her own jewelry. When I saw she had cleverly beaded parrots into the earring design, I had to have them! Mindo is known for having a lot of birds and butterflies so it's a perfect souvenir - on top of that, we got to go flying ourselves while zip lining through the forest! 

The purse is from Thailand but I must admit I didn't buy it. It has been collecting dust on a shelf at my work and finally I asked my boss what the deal was - she said I could have it! Score! I know that it was most likely made in Thailand though as I always see similar bags when we pop on over there. I've said it before and I'll say it again - I love Thailand! The food, the beaches, the laid-back, kind folks and did I mention the food? And this purse - the colorful embroidery is top-knotch. 

And then the sunglasses and shoes are from Singapore, where I currently live! I wore this outfit to go see the new Mona Lisa exhibit. If it comes to your city, GO SEE IT. It's incredible. The whole exhibit is explaining the history behind the "discovery" of a second, younger Mona Lisa and then all the proof that it is indeed a Da Vinci through and through. That man's genius is astounding, the exhibit was so fascination and best of all - we got super up close and personal with the painting! I couldn't believe it. I've seen the other (older) Mona Lisa in the Louvre and man, it's a zoo there! It was so chill at the Singapore exhibit - we just walked right up to it (it was in a glass case). 

Thanks for letting me take you down memory lane! 

Have you picked up any good souvenirs yourself lately? 

Dress: Uptown Cheapskate | Scarf: Cambodian | Earrings: Ecuador | Purse: Thailand 

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Le Freak C'est Chic

I don't know what my thing is with crop tops. I feel like I'm so obsessed with them; every off day that's my go-to. Maybe it's living in the tropics or being able to throw off the teacher clothes or what but I love 'em. When in doubt, just make it into a crop top. Like knotting my favorite graphic tee. I love wearing a gray tee (which can be problematic in a humid climate) because it casualizes an outfit. Is casualize a word? It is now. 

I found this orange skirt at my local thrift store. The circle is so HUGE, walking down stairs is just ridiculous in this thing. I feel like a big, loud, orange madame with a old-timey train. Which sounds like a bad thing, but trust me - for me, it's an awesome feeling. 

Then I tied the whole thing together with pops of turquoise. Voila! 

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India, Ecuador, and Deck 4

I love love love love love LOVE this shirt. I wish I had bought a bazillion more. I wear it all the time because it's so perfect: it's super comfortable and such a bright, happy pink with beautiful gold embroidery. Just gorgeous. It's also this light weight material that keeps me warm or cool; I especially wear this shirt on airplanes. 

I bought it in India, which is one more reason why I love it. My favorite travel souvenirs are things I can wear and every time I do, I think about that trip. Our India trip holds a special place in my heart because it's was Stephen and my 1st trip together. We had been dating a month when he asked me to go with him. I thought he was crazy but luckily, one of my friends convinced me I would be insane to turn down this opportunity. We had lots of ups and downs while traveling in India but that trip was what solidified our relationship. 

I'm also wearing my Flips Bare shoes which are very obviously inspired by Ecuadorian textiles. I did my student teaching in Ecuador and had the time of my life. It's my ultimate goal to take Stephen there and show him all my favorite places. So of course, when I saw these shoes I had to have them. Added bonus: they are so comfortable! And while talking about Ecuador, I'm wearing my Panama hat to hide the fact that I badly in need of a haircut. Did you know that Panama hats are actually originally from Ecuador?

I wore this outfit to my French class tonight. I took these photos in the parking deck to escape from the summer showers. Can you tell how utterly humid it is? I'm soaking through my shirt. But hey! The consolation price of Singapore heat is that I actually have tan legs! (I mean, tan for me). 

What souvenirs have you picked up on your trips?

Shirt: India | Shorts: Charlotte Russe (old) | Shoes: Flips Bare (Mustafa's) | Hat & Sunglasses: Bugis | Bracelet Party: Lovisa & Borneo 

In Them Cut-Off Jeans

"When woman find the right person, they just ... disappear for six months, and then resurface, eyes shiny, and usually six pounds heavier." - How To Be A Woman by Caitlin Moran. 

First of all, if you happen to love clever, witty, intelligent and funny women, you must run - not walk - to get How To Be A Woman. It's a similar vein to Tina Fey's Bossypants or Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out With Me? - part memoir, part essay and a full-on lady who doesn't take (too much) bullshit.

But I digress. This post isn't about one of my favorite books, it's about my favorite pair of shorts. Before I met my boyfriend, I could shimmy into these suckers no problem. But then, well... I disappeared and resurfaced too chubby to wear these. If I had to choose a trade-off, I'd always always choose fat and happy over distressed denim. Luckily though, I don't have to! When I came to Singapore, I picked back up one of my favorite hobbies - swimming. Once I realized I had lost a little weight these puppies were the first things I tried back on. They don't fit like exactly like they used to but I'm pretty darn pleased all the same! 

These shorts were a Goodwill find that were once very frumpy mom 1990's Calvin Klein shorts. Exhibit A below. I totally distressed the crap out of them and am so thrilled how they turned out!   

I got to admit, I sometimes feel a little funny wearing them, though. I think I look pretty darn good in them but I worry that someone will think, "Her thighs are too chubby to be wearing that." And then I just think... 

and I wear 'em anyway. 

P.S. I HAVE to tell you about my shoes even though I was a naughty blogger who didn't get a photo of them (I was rushing to do these photos before work). You can see a better shot of them on my instagram. They are not only so cute, and soooooo comfortable (they weren't kidding when they said these were made for barefootists), they're ethically made! 

Shorts: Goodwill | Top: Modcloth | Sweater: Korean Thrift Store | Shoes: Flips Bare (similar) | Sunglasses: H&M | Rings, Earrings, and Bangles: all old