June 5, 2017 – Bardstown in Black (OOTD #36)

Kentucky’s a pretty cool state.

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I do still find it hard to consider myself a true Kentuckian, though I’ve spent almost all of my life here – all 18 years of it, actually, excluding the 8 months that I spent as a baby in China. My father’s a true New Jersey guy and my mother’s from Chicago, so none of us have ever truly fit in to the southern lifestyle. Still, while Kentucky’s a little on the boring side, it has its merits. It’s always been my dream to move to a big city like New York, but I do rather like the small town feel that Kentucky’s got. 

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While I live in one of Kentucky’s biggest cities (though I usually think of it as more of a really large college town rather than the small city it touts itself as), it is pretty cool to go in to visit one of small country towns. Today, my family and I headed into Bardstown, KY, at the request of my visiting uncle and cousin from New Jersey. They’re both super into vintage stuff, so we figured this was a pretty nice place to get lunch and do some antique shopping.

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And it really was. We had lunch at this really cute burger place, and spend the rest of the afternoon wandering in and out of the little boutiques and consignment shops that lined Bardstown’s downtown Main St. area. I didn’t find anything I really wanted (except for a cute little Burberry sweater in a second-hand shop for $100; sadly, it had a tear that wasn’t going to be easy to fix), but I think my uncle and cousin enjoyed themselves.

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Today’s outfit was actually inspired by my uncle’s style, funnily enough. I wish I had some pictures of him – he’s a really interesting dude. He’s into hot rods, skeletons, local bands, and likes to wear workers’ shirts with random people’s names on it.  Though I don’t have any shirts that label me as a Jerry or an Andres, I do have these fun hair clips that look like skeleton hands. I paired them with a black sweater with detailing on the neckline, maroon pants with detailing down the legs, and, for extra detail, I added a  black velvet choker.

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(Look, writing is hard sometimes, especially trying to avoid sounding repetitive)

And apparently, my uncle liked it because he said I looked cool, in particular the skeleton hair clips.

Sweater: Francesca’s

Pants: Ann Taylor LOFT

Shoes: Converse

That’s it for today! Don’t forget to check me out on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr! For business inquiries, shoot me an email at lensembledujour@gmail.comFullSizeRender 46FullSizeRender 44FullSizeRender 40FullSizeRender 36.jpgFullSizeRender 41.jpg

 

June 1, 2017 – What to Wear When Your Crash Your Father’s Car (OOTD #34)

I don’t mean that title ironically, folks.

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Though I wish I did. Yeah…so I had an interesting phone call or two to make today. Long story short, I was involved in a car crash this morning while I was headed into Louisville for Lexington. It was a scary experience, but thankfully, I’m alright.

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The car’s definitely not though 😅. I can’t really go into any details here, of course, but let’s just say I’ve had better days. Though, in truth, as car crashes go, it was about one of the best car crashes to have. I got out of the car with nothing but a minor burn on my hand and some whiplash, which is, as I understand with car crashes, something to be very thankful for.

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So instead of heading into Louisville, as I had planned (and as I had dressed up for), I ended up spending about half of my day sitting in the Emergency Room, as the doctors wanted to make sure I was alright and hadn’t suffered anything more serious, talking with the insurance company, and the second half sitting in bed watching YouTube videos and doing some work on the computer. In particular, I watched Shrek 2, which is a much cleverer movie than I remembered.

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Anyway, outfit – sadly, this ensemble didn’t get much visibility today, unless you count EMTs, cops, firefighters, and a few kind people who stopped on the road to help.  Which is really too bad, because it’s a pretty cute outfit. This faux suede skirt from Abercrombie is probably one of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe, as it instantly makes any outfit more trendy and more classy. I paired it with this fun mesh top with a twisted pattern along the chest, mixing both sheer and opaque fabrics for a look that’s just a touch sexy (oh, and btw, that’s a nude bra underneath to keep things modest). To finish it all off, I matched some camel-colored suede booties to my skirt and felt like I was ready for a very stylish day.

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Whoops.

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But okay, who am I kidding? I can’t complain about my cute outfit being seen; I’m alive, and that concept’s actually quite exciting to me at the moment.

Welp, thanks for reading! Sorry if today’s post sounded a bit like a downer, I’ll try to be a bit more chipper in the next one. In fact, there’s a lot to be chipper about in terms of this blog – I’ve seen a huge increase in page views the last few week, and of course, it’s due to all of you wonderful readers. See you in the next one!

Shirt: Unknown. It’s got no tag, sadly

Skirt: Abercrombie

And 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

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May 29, 2017 – Memorial Day Fashion (OOTD #31)

Happy Memorial Day my friends!


Of course, Memorial Day is a holiday we Americans take to honor the men and women who have served in the military. Granted, that’s not what the majority of the people do on Memorial Day – it’s become a day for shopping good sales at the mall and holding barbecues for friends. Personally, I fall more into that majority category, who takes this holiday off as a shopping opportunity, as I don’t know anyone close to me who has served, but I do think it is an important day for our country to recognize.


Today, my family and I hit the Kentucky Horse Park to check out a vintage market they were holding. It was pretty cool! There were plenty of vendors with some really cool products (and plenty of cute clothes), and I would definitely go again next year. There was this really adorable pink taffeta dress from the 50s that I really liked, but sadly, it had what looked like moth holes in it, so I had to pass. It was only $15 too!


Oh well.


Being at the Horse Park, I got some nice photos with the horses that were out and about. I live in Kentucky, so I see horses A TON (like seriously, you can barely drive anywhere without seeing some horses out grazing in a field), but I don’t necessarily get to go up and touch them, as (obviously) they’re someone else’s property and you don’t know how friendly they are.


These horses at the Horse Park were very friendly though, and quite happy to be petted and stroked. I am always so stricken by how large and beautiful horses are up close.


It’s Memorial Day, so obviously, I had to do the red, white and blue thing for my outfit – very stereotypically American, I guess, but in the best way possible. I’ve had these shorts for years, and I always love to wear them on patriotic holidays because I think the pattern resembles little stars. My shirt is much newer – actually, I just got it a few months ago at a vintage shop! It came with a matching midi skirt, so together, they look like a swing dress, but I also enjoy wearing them separate. All in all, I definitely got a vintage vibe from today’s oufit – though perhaps a little less than my outfit from last Friday!


Thanks for reading! I’ll see you in the next one!

Shirt: Vintage

Shorts: Forever21

And 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
Also, as promised, here’s a really ugly picture of me from the 5K! I did it with my friend Amanda – we definitely weren’t the fastest ones there, but we did okay. And it was a lot of fun!

May 26, 2017 – Like Something Out of a Soda Pop Shop (OOTD #30)

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Actually, I suppose it doesn’t really begin until tomorrow, Saturday, but the end of Friday certainly feels like the weekend anyway. Plus, my parents took off from work today, so it definitely feels like it should be a Saturday.


We had planned to take a family trip out hiking today, but after all the rain we had yesterday, it just didn’t seem like a practical choice.


Instead, we decided to head to the brand new Summit at Fritz Farm shopping center in Lexington.


Now, I have something of an interesting background with the Summit – The Summit was originally an outdoor shopping mall in Louisville, and I used to go all the time as a kid. Something happened though, and ownership ended up changing hands, so the Summit in Louisville ended up becoming the Paddock, and the owners of the “Summit” name ended up building a new outdoor shopping center in Lexington.


And it was definitely very nice! A little different than the original Summit I knew – less standard retail, and more upscale boutique. I found a lot of things I liked in the shops, but not a lot I could afford. Still, it was fun to walk around and stretch my legs and window shop.


Who knows, maybe one of these new boutiques is hiring?


As for outfit, today’s shirt actually comes from New York – it was purchased in the H&M on Times Square! I remember back as a kid I visited that same H&M and bought two jackets (both of which I still own and can fit into) , so I felt like I just had to buy something there again! I paired it with some high waisted denim shorts and oxfords wifh calf socks. For good measure, I threw my hair into a ponytail withn a scrunchie to go for the ultimate 50s vibe (though the shorts I was wearing probably would’ve qualified as a bathing suit rather than street wear in the 50s!)



Later this evening, I’m running a 5K with my friend…wish me luck. I don’t really have a problem running 5K straight, but it’s not exactly a walk in the park either, so I’m kind of hoping my friend doesn’t want to sprint the whole thing. I’ll definitely post some pictures tomorrow, assuming I’m not hunched over trying to catch my breath in all of them!

 

And 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: H&M

Shorts: PacSun

Shoes: Target

(bonus: here’s a pic of my dad photobombing me)

May 22, 2017 – First Day of Summer Break

Okay, maybe it’s not the actual first day of summer (that’s June 21), but it was good enough for me!
Today was my first day of summer break, and it certainly feels lovely. I had nowhere in particular to be until the evening, I got to sleep in, and I even got to go running this morning. I’m doing a 5K with my friend this Friday, so while I haven’t exactly been training for it very hard, I do want to be prepared.
But in truth, it was also a lazy day. There was a dishwasher to unload, which I didn’t do, some clothes to put away, which I didn’t do, and my room could use a cleaning, but I also failed to do that. In part, I was just excited to have some time to myself now that school is out, but the other part, I’ve been preparing for an interview.
So that is what my fashion today was all about – this interview, for which I took to heart the quip “dress for success” Admittedly, I am no expert at job interviews, and I definitely don’t feel experienced enough to discuss what people are looking for in potential employees, but I do know how to dress to make myself look more impressive than I am.
Today, I opted for something bright and colorful, to show that I have a bright and colorful personality. My skirt has a vibrant pattern, which I highlighted through the bright color of my coral blouse. To look extra classy, I layered on top my mother’s pearl necklace.
Wish me luck on this interview! I’ve actually got another tomorrow, so I do have another option going if this doesn’t pan out, but of course, it would be wonderful if I had some choice.

Skirt
: Ann Taylor

Shirt: Altar’d State 

May 16, 2017 – It’s Always Smart To Wear All-Black in Mid-May

Look, I personally only consider the seasons to be a general guideline in terms of fashion.


Sure, it’s not wise to wear flip flops in the winter, and sure, burgundy is more of a fall color than a spring, but you should never let a season restrict you from wearing what you want, as long as you’re willing to handle the consequences. Want to wear a long-sleeve turtleneck black knit dress with black tights and black booties in early summer, like me? Go for it.


…just be prepared to be hot and uncomfortable when you’re outside.


Now for me, it’s not a big deal. In fact, I’m inside in a classroom for the majority of the day anyway, so I have a lot of freedom in terms of wearing what I want. But still, I’m wary of the temperature and the weather for when I do go outside, because walking to the car – even if it’s only a two minute walk – can be hell in the winter if you’re in a short skirt.


All in the name of fashion, right?


The way I see it, it’s kinda like wearing heels – wearing them makes you look taller and feel more confident, but they can also give you nasty blisters. It’s up to you to decide whether you value style or comfort more. There’s no right or wrong answer: it all depends on how you’re feeling that day, and what you’re willing to handle.


And for me today, I was willing to handle a bit of heat in order to wear this dress the way I wanted to. 


What do you think? How willing are you to forego comfort in favor of fashion? Leave me a comment below, and as always, thanks so much for reading!
Dress: Pitaya

May 15, 2017 – This Outfit Is A Luxury Sedan

T-minus four days until the end of my high school career!


I feel like that’s all I’ve been able to talk about these last few blogs, but it’s one of the only things on my mind. I can’t believe that after four years of hard work and a fair share of crying, it’s finally all over.


Today, I went out with the other Senior class officers to check out the location of our graduation ceremony – Rupp Arena. It’s pretty sweet to be able to graduate in this huge venue where concerts and sports events take place, but it can really make you feel small. I have no idea how I’m going to deliver my speech to 5,000 people without vommitting – fingers crossed for the best, though?


I’ve also been pretty busy today working on finding a summer job. The job I thought I was pretty much guaranteed to have didn’t pan out, and now I’m in an awkward position trying to find full-time work within the next few weeks so I can start earning money to pay if Notre Dame. I’m thinking retail, maybe? 


I don’t know, honestly I’ll take about anything.


But on to more positive topics – like today’s outfit! Again, my ensemble was inspired by something I came across on Pinterest – black pants, black shirt, and a camel colored faux suade nacket. I absolutely adore the contrast between camel and black, it reminds me of the interior of a nice car, like a BMW. In a way, you could say today’s outfit was inspired by a luxury sedan?


Welp, thats all I’ve got for today. Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

Jacket: Forever21

Top: Target

Pants: Altar’d State

No bonus mirror selfie for today.  I may just end up dropping this portion of the blog altogether – I figure there are already enough pictures of me throughout each blog, and it doesn’t really need another one, lol.

May 12, 2017 – Digging Myself

I’ve gotta admit – I’m a huge fan of today’s outfit.
And it’s a pretty simple one – just a blue military jacket over an orange sweater – but somehow, it just turned out really nice. Maybe it was the way I styled my hair (there were definitely some Daenerys vibes going on there), or maybe it was the contrast of the blue and orange, but whatever it was, I was feeling it today.


It happens that way sometimes. Some of the nicest outfits can be the simplest, and some of the most complex outfits can fall flat on their face and look gaudy. On the flip side, sometimes simple outfits are boring and the complex outfits are the real eye-catchers. It can be hard to tell.


Today, I got to go check out one of my art pieces that was featured in a show. I was in AP Studio Art this year, and while it was definitely stressful and miserable at times, it was also one of the most rewarding classes I got to take. I had to push myself pretty hard to meet the deadlines, and I always wished l had more time to perfect my pieces, but sometimes, that’s what you need as an artist to improve.


Here’s the piece I submitted, as well as me posing next to it. I know I’m not good enough to ever do it professionally, but I certainly am thankful to have this talent that I can use to express myself though. It’s a nice hobby.


Since the show I was at was downtown, I got a few pics around the neighborhood. Most of the pictures I take for this blog come from around my home, so any chance I get to take pictures in a different location, I take.

That’s it for today. See you in the next one!
Dress: Forever21

Jacket: Abercrombie

Bonus mirror selfie:

May 11, 2017 – It Was Too Hot For This Jacket Today

After a slight delay, the outfit from May 11, 2017 is ready for publication!
Sorry it’s a bit late, but I’ve been really busy as this second-to-last week of school draws to a close. I’m drilling my graduation speech pretty much every day at this point, and honestly, I just can’t wait for it all to be done.


Seriously, high school was cool for like, the first few days of freshman year, but the gimmick has definitely worn old.


I’m kidding, of course. Mostly. I know I shouldn’t be ungrateful. High school has allowed me to make a lot of great friends, take a some really challenging classes, and helped me get into Notre Dame, so it’s not all bad.


On to my outfit for today though, it was kinda hard trying to figure out what to wear with the weather. It was warm and pretty muggy, but the breeze felt cold and rainy. Overall, just a rather bleak day. In the end, I chose to put together a little something that I found inspiration for on Pinterest – something I do quite often. I pin a lot of my outfit ideas on Pinterest, and on days like this, where I don’t know what to wear, I pull from my fashion board.


So the outfit ended up being based around this oversized suede jacket that I salvaged from my mother’s closet when she was about to give it to Goodwill. It’s from Coldwater Creek, back during the days when they had their own brick and mortar stores in just about every mall. Underneath, I wore a long black sweater tucked into some denim shorts. It was all about the contrast between the oversized, baggy tops and the short, fitted shorts.
I don’t know who posted the original image that I based my outfit off of, otherwise I would credit her, but that’s one of the risks of putting your content on the Internet I guess. Speaking of which, maybe I should start putting my stuff on Pinterest. Anything to get my content out there, right?


Thanks for being patient with me as I figure out my schedule for posting these blogs, and I’ll see you in the next one:
Jacket: Coldwater Creek

Sweater: PacSun

Shorts: Hollister
Bonus mirror selfie:

May 10, 2017 – It’s Vintage

I feel like I’m the sort of person to, when asked where I got a particular article of clothing is from, to respond in some sort of super pretentious tone, “It’s vintage.”


As much as I’m not a fan or pretentiousness, I am a huge fan of vintage. I love Goodwill and other thrift shops, but my favorites are those that specialize in vintage clothes. The dress I’m wearing today comes from Street Scene, an adorable little vintage shop filled to the brim with all things 70s. It’s also right next to Coffee Times, which happens to be the best coffee shop I’ve found in all of Lexington.


I feel like people are sometimes intimidated by vintage clothes because they’re afraid that they’ll look dated, but in truth, it’s just a matter of styling. Vintage clothes need to be worn with more modern pieces and accessories, but if they are, they’ll look perfectly trendy and unique. After all, past trends are often recycled into contemporary fashion, meaning vintage clothes can sometimes be just as cutting edge as the things you buy at the mall.


Today’s outfit includes this vintage, 70s era jumper with fun buckles layered over top of a woolen short sleeve turtleneck sweater (lol, it was actually super hot with the turtleneck today; it was like 80 degrees out). In order to stay modern and prevent myself from looking like I walked out of my mother’s closet, I wore heeled black booties. Also, I’m pretty short, and wearing heels makes me feel better about myself.

Dress: Unknown (purchased at Street Scene)

Sweater: Ann Taylor LOFT

And  that’s it for today, guys! Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to give my new Instagram a follow for updates and sneak peaks of blog posts!
Bonus mirror selfie: