respect the shoes

20 May 2013

Hooded Utility Hits DC

Hey ladies, just got back from a long weekend away with the fam to visit relatives in the DC area. Since we packed light, I pretty much wore a variation of this outfit the entire time:

We road-tripped it, which is one of my fave ways to travel. I sat in the waaaaay back, but one thing about riding from the cheap seats - with no pilot/co-pilot duties, I can just sit back and turn my nosy on, peering through the side windows at everyone's everything. Overpacked cars, cows on fields, strange over-abundance of above-ground pools through Jersey - here's looking at you from 65mph.

Jacket: F21 hooded utility (sim, sim, pricey)
Top: F21 essential striped (wider, pinker, as blouse)
Jeans: BR factory (worn here - sim, sim, deal)
Necklace: gift (sim, sim, blingier)
Bracelets: F21 & Old Navy (sim, sim, sim)
Bag: J.Crew striped tillary (worn here - sim, sim, pricey)
Shoes: J.Crew sardinia espadrilles (sim, slip-on, sneaker)

And here are some pics of our trip via iPhone - we had my little nephew with us, so of course we kept the visit educational:

I think after this trip my fam has hit about every Smithsonian museum in DC - this time we hit the American Indian Museum.

And of course we nom'd.

We also hit the Hirshhorn Museum - Venus with Rags sure looks like how I feel some mornings trying to get dressed.

Though I don't understand most modern art ... nor do I understand why Hello Kitty needs to go to space.

And we rounded things out with my fave, the Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center - it's next to Dulles Airport, so a bit of a drive, but a real treat if you're an aviation nut like I am. Space Shuttle Discovery is there!

I told you I pretty much wore the same thing all weekend.

Favorite meal of the trip for me was actually our last. Tsukasa Restaurant in Bordertown, NJ by Trenton. Quiet tiny restaurant in a picturesque little town run by a Japanese couple. Food was worth considering how to wind our way back there for in the future.

+++

I'm biz-tripping again this week - one of these days I'll get back to regular posting and blog reading again! Have a good Monday!

17 May 2013

Initially

So I am a fan of monograms. Partly because I think they are pretty, especially the intertwined script versions. Monograms speaks to my inner tomboy prep. And partly because it's kind of cool to see my own initials down on something physical.

But considering wearable monograms are traditionally meant to be discreet and be seen only by yourself, your immediate family and your launderer, I wonder if it isn't a bit egocentric to go around nowadays toting my own initials around in public. Like, I know who I am - you must as well.

What do you think of monograms?

Sweater: J.Crew tippi, monogrammed (sim, sim)
Top: F21 bejeweled georgette (sim, sim, peter pan)
Skirt: J.Crew dorrie (worn here - sim, checked, midi)
Bracelets: J.Crew (sim, sim) & Sage K and Co via Etsy (sim, sim)
Bag: Brahmin sadie (worn here - sim, patent, clear, pricey)
Shoes: Sam Edelman adena (worn here - sim, pricey, deal)

15 May 2013

Mercy of the Lens

So when I initially put this outfit together, I thought the overall layered effect with be more uh, slimming ... but I guess somehow the mirror told me that I looked fine (?) and then the camera apparently disagreed with it.

Speaking of cameras, I upgraded last year from my point-and-shoot camera to a Panasonic DMC-FZ150. For a gal who has always used Canon products, it was actually a pretty easy transition to the Panasonic - the FZ150 had some nifty features like a flip-back screen and was remote clicker-compatible, both very nice conveniences for a gal who takes her own pics. Plus the zoom on this fixed-lens camera is wicked good, seriously (I've taken it to air shows and had no problems zooming in on aircraft doing demos overhead or taxiing all the way across the airfield).

However, it's not the best portrait camera. Granted I don't have any sites set on Best Fashion Blogger of the Year or anything, but I do wish I could get some of the color richness and depth from a better camera. And yes, I do now regret that when I was looking last year, I nixed the idea of a DSLR because it seemed complicated (though I am totally that person who will buy something electronic and never ever read the manual. Ever. Eyes crossing even now at the thought) and wanted to save some dollars.

I haven't made my mind up yet if I wanted to make the investment yet, but I am currently considering a Canon T3i with a 50mm lens. Seems like it would not only give me better options for my outfit pics, but it'll let me take richer pictures overall. Though it does make me ask - for a lackluster photog like myself, would a better camera automatically equal better pics?

I'd love to hear some advice from you ladies. Do any of you currently use a T3, and if so, what do you think? Or what kind of camera and lens do you currently use for your blog pics and are you happy with it?

Blazer: Cartonnier via Anthropologie brief meeting (reviewed here - sim, striped, deal, luxe)
Top: Limited button detailed (worn here - sim, sim, pricey)
Jeans: J.Crew hipslung (worn here - sim, sim)
Necklace: C.Wonder square stone (worn here - sim, sim, cute bows)
Bracelets: J.Crew wildflower (sim), C.Wonder pave initial, Sage K and Co via Etsy (sim)
Bag: Pour La Victoire roma (worn here - sim, sim, pricey)
Shoes: Michael Kors hamilton (worn here - sim, sim, peep, luxe)

13 May 2013

Paddington Lisa

Hey, ladies! I'm back from my biz trip and was lucky enough to visit one of my fave cities on earth - London. I've got two more trips coming up this month, so here's a taste of my trip while I catch up on my blogging:

Trench: Banana Republic factory (retail version) / Top: Lands' End lightweight jersey / Necklace: Anthropologie ampay (sim bigger) / Bag: J.Crew

London is a great contrast of the modern and traditional - case in point, London Shard and Tower Bridge.

Champagne cocktail at a farmer's market along the Thames River / I had a croissant every single morning I was in London. Granted it's not particularly English, but any sort of baked good in Europe seems to be far and beyond better than what we carry in the States, boo.

The main gate at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre - though I was disappointed to learn it was a reconstruction / the London Eye, spectacular just to look at.

Some of the characters along the South Bank - yes, they are totally grooving to Gangnam Style.

Walked the length of Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. Great retreat from the busy London streets - though we started out by my hotel in Kensington after a morning of work and my feet killed by the end of the day. Taxi, yes.

Had my first taste of tiny British strawberries - what a nomtastic revelation / neon yellow painted townhome (wish the camera could have captured how truly bright and bold it was).

Food in London keeps getting better and better. And I have a soft spot for traditional savory pies.

What I failed to capture was a fantastic dinner at Jamie Oliver's Fifteen restaurant. Think tapas-style using local English ingredients, all for a good cause. The asparagus and cockles were de-diddly-icious.

Memorial Walk through Kensington Gardens / English pubbing it - my new fave drink is a Pimm's and lemonade.

It isn't a visit to London without an obligatory visit to Harrod's, decked out in The Great Gatsby-themed splendor. Of course, my favorite section are the food halls and their elaborate ceilings.

Sweater: J.Crew factory charley / Jeans: J.Crew bootcut / Shoes: Artisan by Clarks herring (sim)

08 May 2013

Variations on a Theme

I've always been drawn to some combination of blue and white punched up with some rosy citrus hue (see here), so it was pretty easy recently to lean towards my favored combo again, this time using a lighter blue and coral-y shade of pink. Makes me think of blooming flowers and warmer days without going too literal, even though the weather hasn't exactly been cooperating recently.

What sweet combination of colors can you not get enough of this spring?