July 12, 2017 – Cambridge, CANbridge, CAN’Tbridge (OOTD #66)

That was a dumb title, I know.

But hey, those are just a staple at this point at L’ensemble du jour. What is a blog post without a stupid, kind-of-but-mostly-not clever title?

By day 7, Amanda and I were growing tired of London. Its newness had worn off, and we were running out of neighborhoods and boroughs we wanted to see. Sue offered to take us out to see Windsor, but the admission prices were sort-of steep, and we are poor college kids who are only here in London by some rather lucky circumstances. Thus, we decided to take our Oyster cards and take a little day trip out to Cambridge.

You’ll notice I said “take our Oyster cards out to Cambridge,” and if you’re a London local, you’ll know that doesn’t work – Oyster cards only work on zones 1-9 throughout the Greater London area. But we are not London locals, and we did not know that wouldn’t work, so we wound up an hour and a half later at a platform in Cambridge with no way to swipe out to get into the actual town.


We had two options at that point – take the train out to the closest station where our Oyster card would allow us to swipe out, so we could buy tickets (which happened to be Broxbourne, the station we began at – and the station that I just mentioned was an hour and a half away) or find a railway worker, admit our mistake, and pay the penalty fee.

We opted for the former.

We hopped back on the Liverpool St train and prepared ourselves for a very long, very sad journey all the way back to Broxbourne. Thankfully, as luck, or perhaps God, would have it, we didn’t have to go all the way back to Broxbourne – the first stop the Liverpool train made was this little town called Shelford, which had a ticket dispenser machine right there on the platform.

In the end, it was probably only a 30 minute detour, but it felt much, much longer. It some ways, it was a happy mistake though – by using our Oyster cards to swipe out at Broxbourne, riding the train to Shelford, and then buying tickets for a ride from Shelford to Cambridge, we only had to pay about three pounds for the whole journey rather than the twenty-something it would have cost to ride from Broxbourne to Cambridge.

Finally in Cambridge, we were in desperate need of some refreshment, so we stopped in a Caffè Nero, the English equivalent of Starbucks. We got some well-deserved coffee, charged our phones, and rested up a bit before embarking on the 30 minute trek all the way out to central Cambridge.

Cambridge was a really beautiful town. It wasn’t exactly a small countryside village, but it almost felt like it; it was so different from the bustle of London. People were riding their bikes everywhere, the roads were uneven cobblestone, and I kept getting weird glances from the much more conservatively dressed locals because I was wearing a crop top.

We had wanted to go punting tour on the river in Cambridge, but unfortunately, we missed out on the final tour of the day due to some big group that was coming in later in the day. It was a bit disappointing, not being able to take this one actual guided tour we’d scheduled, but we still got to see the town and the school, so it was okay. We walked around some more, stopped in a pub where I got bangers and mash (very, very good by the way – but very, very heavy), and then got a rather overpriced Uber back to the station.

That’s it for today! I’ll see you in the next one. Don’t forget to check me out on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr! For business inquiries, shoot me an email at lensembledujour@gmail.com!

Top: Aerie

Skirt: Street vendor in New York

Choker: Madewell

July 10, 2017 – Two Hills and a Caged Elephant (OOTD #64)

I’m beginning to feel ever so slightly like a local.


Of course, I’m not, and any local who heard my strange mid-Atlantic-ish, Philadelphia-ish accent could pick that out immediately, but I’m definitely losing my tourist-y vibe.

By Monday, our fifth day in London and the halfway point on our trip, we were able to navigate the Underground and National Rail with ease, we’d picked up on the local vernacular (“crisps,” “toilets,” the like), we could count exact change, and, on a sadder note, the newness of the whole thing was beginning to wear off for me.


When I first arrived in London, I was in awe of the place – it’s just so old, and I wasn’t expecting it. Well, I guess I was – London’s old, that’s obvious – but I’d never seen anything that oozed cultured antiquity like this, not even some of the cities in China, which are probably even older.

img_3575
But by day 5, it wasn’t so new anymore. I could pass a several hundred year-old pub on the street without my jaw dropping, and that was a shame. Awestruck wonder is nice while it lasts.

First up on Sunday, we took the Tube over to Notting Hill, another thing that was on Amanda’s bucket list. I’ve actually never finished the film Notting Hill – I started watching it on my laptop during our layover in Detroit on our way here, but I never got to finish it. I liked the bit I saw though.


Even without having seen the film, Notting Hill was pretty cool. There are rows upon rows of these beautiful rainbow-colored houses, making for some fun backgrounds for my pictures. It was a bit odd taking pictures in front of other people’s houses though.


We got lunch at this charming little Italian place called the Portobello Garden Cafe. It’s tucked in behind a clothing store, and we had the hardest time finding it, but it was worth it – it had some of the most beautiful outdoor garden décor I’ve ever seen.


After Notting Hill, we moved on to the next Hill on our list – Primrose Hill.

Primrose Hill is essentially a park with a big hill in the middle that gives you a nice view of the London skyline. Also, there was another red telephone booth (this one missing a door), so we took the opportunity to take more of the dumb photo booth photos.


The final stop on Monday’s journey I sadly have no photos for. We went to Union Chapel for a Cage the Elephant concert, and we weren’t allowed to have any cameras or phones in the venue as they were performing songs off their next album. It really was a shame – I would’ve killed to have taken pictures to show how close we were to the stage and just how beautiful the venue was.


I’ve said that Shoreditch was probably my favorite day on the whole trip, but Cage the Elephant was probably my favorite single event. The amazing band coupled with the gorgeous venue made for a truly remarkable experience.

That’s it for today! I’ll see you in the next one. Don’t forget to check me out on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr! For business inquiries, shoot me an email at lensembledujour@gmail.com!

Jacket: Hollister

Shirt: PacSun

Shorts: Abercrombie

July 6, 2017 – Full But Fulfilling (OOTD #60)

London: Day 2


We headed into the city for the first time today, and I feel like we did a pretty good job, if I do say so myself.


We purchased travel passes for a week so we’ll be able to make it around the city via bus, train, or the Underground (it’s still very hard for me not to say subway, haha). Took the Greater Anglia train into Liverpool Street from Broxbourne, and from there, we can hop on the Underground to get about anywhere.


I love the Underground. It’s ridiculously easy to navigate – totally different from the subway system in New York, which is a mess that I’ve ridden plenty of times and still don’t quite understand. Another huge help is that I downloaded an app called CityMapper, which helps you decide what transport to use based on your location and where you want to go. 10/10 would definitely recommend – I don’t know where I would be without it!

Today was a pretty full day – we saw St. Paul’s Cathedral (didn’t go in because it cost like 20 pounds and we’re cheap), and then we got lunch at a place called Ask For Janice, where we heard they had some of the best crumpets in town.


I’ve admittedly never had crumpets before, so I don’t know how they compared to other crumpets, but they were really good! I’d definitely go back. Crumpets, if you haven’t heard of them, are basically small pieces of bread kind of like an English muffin that have been coated with about 5 cups of melted butter – terribly unhealthy I’m sure but also terribly tasty.


From there, we got back on the Underground to get to the British Museum for afternoon tea. Amanda and I both ordered elderflower, and it was absolutely delicious. Probably some of the best tea I’ve had in my life. And the little sandwiches and cakes – oh, it was all so amazing, and I was sad I couldn’t finish it all. The British Museum itself was also quite interesting, very warm and crowded though.


The rest of the day was spent shopping on Oxford St., where I very specifically wanted to see a Zara. I don’t believe we have any in the US (and if we do, it’s only one or two in a major city, none of which I live near), so I probably spent more time and more money there than I should have, but it was worth it.

And in the evening, we went to see Wicked on West End. Now, I saw Wicked many years ago in Louisville, when the US had a tour of it, and I fell in love. It was my first Broadway musical, and I was in awe of the talent and production that went into a show. The West End performance was no different – it’s probably been 10 years since I saw Wicked last, and yet I was still blown away. Plus, this time I knew the songs, so I was able to hum along a bit.

By the time the show got out, it was probably 10:30 in the evening, so we got the Tube back to Liverpool Station and then a train back home.

Like I said a very full, but also a very fulfilling day.

I’ll see you in the next one. Don’t forget to check me out on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr! For business inquiries, shoot me an email at lensembledujour@gmail.com!

Shirt: Free People

Skirt: River Island

July 5, 2017 – Jet Lag Fashion (OOTD #59)

London: Day 1.


Arrived in the Heathrow Airport this morning to a pleasant surprise: customs wasn’t a hassle to get through! It was very smooth in fact, and while I think the man at the passport counter definitely thought it was sketchy that I didn’t know the last name of the person I’d be staying with off the top of my head (see, all Amanda and I have ever referred to her as is “Sue”), it was still much easier than expected.


From there, Sue picked us up and drove us home, about 45 minutes away in Broxbourne. We were terrible company. I felt rather bad, as I could tell how hard Sue was trying to make conversation, but we were so jet lagged and out of it that it’s quite possible that we didn’t even hear some of her questions. She was a good sport about it though.

The little bit I saw from the Heathrow windows was all I actually saw of London today; the rest of the day was spent either napping at home or wandering around Broxbourne and the surrounding neighborhoods. At one point, Amanda and I decided to go for a walk into town simply to look at the architecture and houses – it’s all so different from what we have in the US.


You know, I assumed we’d see plenty of “British-looking” buildings, but in the same way that you see “American-looking” buildings at home – like, there’s a colonial or ranch style home every five houses in any given suburban neighborhood, but they’re not all over. Here, in Broxbourne, I don’t believe I’ve seen anything that doesn’t look like a Tudor-style cottage.


I love it!


So what did I wear today for a day of one part napping, one part staring in awe at the British-ness of everything? Too much, in all honesty; I was sweating rather profusely there at the end of the day. It was a cute outfit though – plaid slacks, purple cardigan, silk scarf – so maybe it was worth it.


Tomorrow, we’re headed into London for the first time, so I’m going to try to get a good night’s sleep. Wish me luck!

I’ll see you in the next one. Don’t forget to check me out on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr! For business inquiries, shoot me an email at lensembledujour@gmail.com!

Sweater and Pants: THE LOFT

July 30, 2017 – Lime Yours (OOTD #56)

Yeah…okay, I didn’t come up with that pun.


If you stole my phone right now and checked my Google search history, you would find “lime puns” among the first results.


Look, it’s hard work trying to come up with clever blog posts every day!


The truth is, I don’t even like limes as a fruit. They’re sour and kind-of bitter, and limeade will forever be second place to lemonade in my heart. But what limes lack in tasty flavor they make up for in a beautiful, rich color that absolutely everyone can wear.


I’ll admit, when I first saw this shirt in Banana Republic, I was hesitant. It reminded me of pea soup, which isn’t really my favorite, and I didn’t see it being a flattering color on me. Still, I decided to try it on, and I was pleasantly surprised to find it looked lovely on my skin – and I’m convinced it looks just as lovely on every skin tone. 

If you’ll remember, this pea-lime color was quite trendy a few years back, and it hasn’t really gone out of style since. Why? Because, like I said, I believe just about everyone can wear it. For instance, my skin tone ranges from a deep tan in the summer to a pale beige in the winter, and I have no problem wearing it regardless of season. It’s vibrant but won’t overwhelm pale alabaster skin and saturated enough to not wash out dark chocolate skin; it’s a universal pleaser.


My point – I just really like this color.


The rest of the outfit is pretty simple – just some leggings, black boots, a necklace, and my favorite black sun hat. Some days are like that though, and there’s nothing wrong with that.


In other news, I’ll be leaving the country in a few days! Only two more shifts of work to make it through and then I’m free. I haven’t even begun to pack – I’ve been so bad with the procrastination. Ah well, maybe it’ll be like the time I flew to New York and I didn’t finish packing until about four hours before I left. That was an interesting time.

That’s it for today! I’ll see you in the next one. Don’t forget to check me out on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr! For business inquiries, shoot me an email at lensembledujour@gmail.com

Shirt: Banana Republic 

Necklace: Forever21

Saturday Musings + Coffee – Planning for London

Hey there.

As some of you might know, I’m going on a trip to London in a little more than a week, and I’m beginning to get quite excited!


The whole thing was a little impromptu actually – my friend, Amanda, has a family friend in England, and she was talking to me in January maybe about how she was planning to visit over the summer. So me, being rather jealous, jokingly asked if I could come along, and to my surprise, she was cool with it. 

We’re getting to stay with this family friend for free, so no hotel to pay for, and Amanda’s mother used to be a flight attendant, so our airfare was greatly discounted. It’s all very lucky for me, because there’s no way I’d be able to pay for a trip like this otherwise. I’m still surprised it’s happening.

Anyway, Amanda and I met for lunch the other day (I actually wrote about it a little here) to discuss what we wanted to do while there. We’ve already got tickets to see Cage the Elephant (ironically, a Kentucky band) in their acoustic set at Union Chapel, but otherwise, our schedule is fairly free for whatever we want to do on any given day.

We decided we definitely want to do the Climb the O2 experience, as our means of getting a good view of the city from above, rather than doing something like the London Eye. We also want to hit Shoreditch for its beautiful Instagram opportunities,  St. Paul’s Cathedral (I’m a sucker for old, beautiful churches), Brick Lane Market, and probably way more things than we’ll actually be able to see. 


We’re going to meet again sometime before we leave to sort out our priorities, but, since I know many of you guys live in Europe, and some even in England, I thought I’d ask – what should I make sure to hit while in London? And honestly, even if you’re not English, but you’ve visited the country – or if you’re simply a person who likes giving their opinion – please leave me a comment below! I love hearing feedback, and I know I won’t be able to get to everything I want, so I’d appreciate any advice you can offer.

There’s so much still to do – pack, pick out clothes, order tickets, figure out how many bags I need and what needs to be checked and what can be carry-on – and so little time! I’m beginning to get rather excited though. This is my first time out of the country in years; the last time, I was in third grade and my parents took me to see China. That was such an amazing, memorable experience, so I hope England can compete!

Anyway, it looks like it’s going to be a short post today – my parents are calling me for dinner. Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in the next one!

June 23, 2017 – Schoolteacher Chic (OOTD #51)

Can you believe I’ve already made 51 of these silly little things?


I guess 51 is an odd number to celebrate – I probably should’ve done 50, but yesterday, when I was writing the blog post of the day, I thought I was at 49. I didn’t realize until after the blog had been posted that it was the “big 5-0,” and by then it was of course too late.


But better late than never, so here I am, happily recognizing that I’ve made it to 51 blog posts!


It’s only been a few months for me writing on L’ensemble du jour, but I can tell you, it’s already made a moderate impact on my life. First off, I can’t just have lazy days where I wear leggings and a t-shirt anymore, lol. Every day’s outfit has to be carefully planned out and organized to ensure that nothing looks too similar, and there’s always quality content and variety on this blog.


It’s a challenge, but I love it. Writing here is easily one of my favorite parts of the day. And it’s made all the better because I know you guys always have such kind words to say! Seriously, reading the comments that are left at the bottom of each blog always makes me smile, even after a long day at work.


Speaking of work, I had another job interview today. I figured since I was only working part time, I’d try and see if I could pick anything else up on the side. Fingers crossed! 

For this interview, I chose an outfit I had actually already had planned out for weeks – and one that I can only describe as “schoolteacher-esque.” A very stylish schoolteacher, who wears Evan Picone jackets and Ray-Bans, but a schoolteacher nonetheless. Actually, fun fact: two of the pieces today were vintage/thrifted – the jacket, which I got at Salvation Army, and the skirt, which I got along with a cute jacket at an antique mall.


A huge thank you to the 270-some of you who follow me here, the nearly 2,000 who follow me on IG, and basically anyone else who follows me on any social media channel or has ever checked out this blog. I’m hardly famous, but I’m growing, and your support means a lot.


Skirt: Vintage

Shirt: Hollister

Jacket: Evan Picone

Bag: Coach

That’s it for today! I’ll see you in the next one. Don’t forget to check me out on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr! For business inquiries, shoot me an email at lensembledujour@gmail.com

Top 5 Pinterest Picks for the Week 6-11-17

For those of you who know me well, you probably know that Pinterest has been a huge obsession of mine for years. Huge obsession as in before I was even using Instagram, Twitter, or Snapchat regularly, I was pinning away on Pinterest.

Before I got interested in blogging, before I even knew what “aesthetic” meant,” Pinterest was there. Like, I remember being a member of Pinterest’s beta phase, where I had to have a friend who already had an account send me an invite to even join!

Anyway, I figured this blog was a great excuse to share with you guys some of my favorite Pinterest finds for the week! Plus, I know all about having a small blog and trying to get some exposure, so anything I can do to help some other bloggers out, I’ll do. If you have a blog with original Pinterest content and you want to be featured on this series, hit me up with a comment below with a link to one of your pins and I’d be happy to give you a shoutout!

Oh, and if you’d like to check me out on Pinterest, please do! I’m constantly pinning – it’s like an addiction. I have boards on fashion, beauty, lifestyle, travel food – you name it! Also, it would mean a lot to me if you’d go repin some of my fashion content from this blog – you can find it all on this board – to help me get some more exposure.

Anyway, without further ado, here’s my top 5 Pinterest picks for the week!

1. Elie Saab – Spring 2017 Couture

499bf6e775a3ac5f47c848cdabfd4921.jpg

Source

I’ve been a huge fan of Elie Saab since forever. If I had $100,000 to go out spending willy-nilly on evening gowns, you can bet I would own at least 10 of his spectacular evening gowns. His designs always manage to be so alluring without being to showy, and I think that subtlety is what makes him a great designer. Other designers, like Alexander McQueen or Marchesa, like to make their haute couture stand out by having outlandish silhouettes or embellishments (and trust me, I have absolutely no problem with that!), but Elie Saab takes a more understated route. These are the kind of dresses you could wear to a red carpet event or wedding and get comments like “how elegant” rather than “how unusual.” Again, nothing wrong with unusual, but sometimes, it’s better to go for the crowd-pleaser.

2. Srevolrof – Messy Braids

62ce4281d3df6b24a2eab89f512e65f7.jpg

Source

By the looks of it, this girl has an absolutely fabulous blog; the only downside is – for me, at least – it’s all in German! Regardless, blogging is a rather visual medium, so language doesn’t also act as such a barrier as it does in other endeavors. Thankfully, there’s this little thing called the Internet, so, after hours of pouring over German dictionaries (or about 3 seconds on Google Translate), I found out that this blog post not only showed off a fabulous messy hairstyle, but it was also in support of a charity for Nepal! I do love a girl with good hair and a good heart ❤️ Definitely go check her out!

3. Gal Meets Glam – Charleston in January

Source

45b70f20b932329bb96c7d10d14bfc92.jpg

It was actually rather difficult trying to find a fashion pin that actually linked back to its original source. The Internet is a wonderful place that allows us content creators to share and promote ourselves to a wide variety of audiences, but it also means it’s very easy for others to steal content and repost it without crediting its owner. I’m not saying everything on Pinterest has been stolen, of course, but it’s definitely worth being aware of, and I’m usually more likely to pin something if I see it comes from its original owner’s website, rather than another source, like Tumblr or Instagram. Anyway, I thought this girl’s style was really cute – effortlessly chic and feminine – and something I might try to recreate here on L’ensemble du jour. A lot of my outfits are inspired by what I see on Pinterest, actually, and that’s part of why I love the website so much,

4. Sunrise on Kilimanjaro – Hudson Henry

d9b667832a185f0ffb4017c542c80160.jpg

Source

Doesn’t this photo just speak for itself? I follow a lot of travel bloggers and photographers, but this guy’s work really stands out above the rest. In addition to just being a really beautiful location, it’s also a really intelligently staged shot, with the tiny silhouettes of the adventurers peeking out from the bottom corner. It allows the beautiful scenery to shine, while also making commentary on how small we humans are in the grand scheme of things. I’m not trying to wax poetic here – it’s just a really pretty photo in the end, regardless of interpretations you can take from it.

5. Noel Badges Pugh Art

tumblr_ogyqgs0fyK1ronehbo1_1280.jpg

Source

Those of you who’ve seen some of my OOTD posts from art galleries know, I’m kinda into art. I mostly consider it a hobby because I know I’m not really talented enough to make a true career out of it, but that’s part of why I love seeing artists who have been able to make it their profession online. This guy does some really detailed and colorful ink work that mixes the human body and nature, creating a really interesting, psychedelic look. Have a look at his Tumblr and go show him some love!

And that’s all for today! I hope you liked the first in this Pinterest Picks series. If you do, there will be more to come! Don’t forget to check me out on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr! For business inquiries, shoot me an email at lensembledujour@gmail.com.

 

June 9, 2017 – Like a Scarf in the Wind (OOTD#40)

…Never knowing who to cling to 🎶

FullSizeRender 64.jpg

I love wearing big scarves on windy days. The way they fly around and billow in the air is so dramatic, like a super hero with a cape. Is it a little excessive and a touch theatric? Yes. But it looks cool, and when I look cool, I feel cool – even though I know it’s a generally accepted fact that I am not.

FullSizeRender 65.jpg
Don’t judge the smudge of lipstick in my teeth.

That’s actually the reason I started getting into fashion in the first place. As a kid in elementary school, I was definitely a bit on the dorky side, and for many years I had trouble interacting with the other students. That probably had to do with the fact I hissed at people and refused to smile in pictures and once got into an argument with my entire first grade class about how Santa Claus wasn’t real (I lost)…but when you’re 7, you don’t necessarily understand that the other kids don’t think crawling around pretending to be a cat is as cool as you think it is.

FullSizeRender 67.jpg

Then, sometime in second grade, my parents bought me the first Hannah Montana CD. I loved that thing to death. Listening to the CD, of course, led to watching the show, and watching your first Disney Channel show is just a gateway drug into the world of preteen sitcoms. And what did I learn from watching shows like Hannah Montana, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, and Sonny with a Chance?

FullSizeRender 68.jpg

That cool clothes make a cool person.

FullSizeRender 69.jpg

So I devoted myself to mimicking the styles I saw on my favorite shows. I started shopping at Justice and Limited Too, got my ears pierced, and started styling my hair. It didn’t make a big difference in my social life, actually – there was no dramatic makeover that led to instant popularity – but I think people started thinking of me as less the weird girl who hissed at people and more the girl who always dressed nicely. I found I liked that label, and the label stuck.

FullSizeRender 70.jpg

Sorry, I’ve gotten a bit distracted. Today’s outfit: I worked again today, so comfort and practicality took center stage. The white t-shirt and plain khakis (funnily, the same khakis I wore when I had my first job at Kroger two years ago) are so boring they could be worn for any job, but I accessorized them to make things a bit more interesting. The scarf, of course, was one of those accessories, but I also found a pair of bright Sperry’s, bright earrings, a bright bracelet, and some bright lipstick to – you guessed it – brighten myself up.

FullSizeRender 71.jpg

If you’re also into fashion, what got you interested in it? Any interesting stories to tell? Leave me a comment below! And for good measure, here’s a super stylish and not at all embarrassing photo of me circa 2008 playing dress up.

Me - Zombie2.JPG
Mixing patterns since 2008

That’s it for today! I’ll see you in the next one. Don’t forget to check me out on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr! For business inquiries, shoot me an email at lensembledujour@gmail.com

Pants: Celebrity Jeans

T-shirt: Target

Shoes: Sperry

FullSizeRender 72FullSizeRender 73

June 8, 2017 – Grey[pe?] (OOTD#39)

Get it, like grape?

FullSizeRender 47

But it’s…it’s grey(pe). Because this outfit is has both grey and grape colors in it…

FullSizeRender 57.jpg

See, this is why I should never be allowed in front of a keyboard. I make terrible puns like this that have to be explained, and then probably aren’t even funny to begin with. Look, it’s hard coming up with even mildly clever blog post titles every day! I try 😅😂

FullSizeRender 63.jpg

Anyway, today’s outfit was built for comfort. I just started a new job at a local hardware store where I’m on my feet a lot, so I wanted to be my clothes were appropriate. Thankfully, I’m not doing any heavy lifting or hard labor, so I was still able to wear this comfy knit heather grey dress and a simple purple cardigan to keep things feminine, the colors from which, of course, I pulled the silly title for this blog. I remember the days two summers ago when I worked at a grocery store and I had to wear a uniform – I’m definitely not eager to go back to those ill-fitting khakis and that awful neon t-shirt!

FullSizeRender 56.jpg

Funny story about this little Coach scarf – I got it for my 12th birthday from my best friend from middle school. I have no idea if it’s really or not, though I have a suspicion it’s not, as I remember she went on a trip to New York (where, of course, the famed counterfeit heaven dubbed Chinatown exists) shortly before my party. I mean, what 12 year-old could actually afford a real Coach scarf? It means a lot to me regardless, as it reminds me of our friendship, and I haven’t seen her since I moved about a year after that birthday.

FullSizeRender 61.jpg

Haha, now that I think of it – this dress was a gift too. I got it from another middle school best friend (who, funnily enough, was actually introduced to me by the friend who gave me the Coach scarf!) when she got back from a trip to France. I guess the only part of my outfit that’s really my own is the sweater!

FullSizeRender 62.jpg

In the end, though, I’m very relieved to be back to working again. It’s not the most glamorous position in the world, but it’ll help pay my tuition, and that’s what really counts.

IMG_2269.JPG

Oh, and if you have any clever-er blog title ideas for me, please leave a comment below! I love to hear feedback, especially from people who are funnier than me.

That’s it for today! I’ll see you in the next one. Don’t forget to check me out on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr! For business inquiries, shoot me an email at lensembledujour@gmail.com

Dress: BKS Girl

Scarf: Coach (maybe?)

Sweater: Ann Taylor LOFTFullSizeRender 59.jpg

FullSizeRender 58.jpg