When I Grow Up

Swedish independent artist Fever Ray is a blend of hippie and grunge, pulled together to create both original music and style. Check out her music videos here

Smart Specs

Trying to find the perfect pair of prescription glasses can be a struggle - and trying to find them online is even more difficult. Buying glasses in a store rapidly becomes a huge expense, especially if you've ever bought designer Vogues like I used to do. But as a college student on a strapped budget, I wasn't prepared to spend my bank account on another pair of designer specs. Fortunately, I stumbled upon a lifesaving website called Warby Parker, whose glasses are just $95. I was skeptical for a number of reasons - they might be poor quality, not fit to my face, and I wouldn't be able to try them on to test it. That's when I found it, "at home try on" - where Warby Parker sends you 5 pairs of glasses for no cost, keep them for 5 days, and then send them back. Simple as clicking "order".

 It arrived in a sleek black box with five pairs of glasses tucked inside, waiting for me to try them all on. Each frame was obviously well made, and I should know, I've been glasses shopping since I was 11.


Though two of the pairs were obviously a little too small for my face shape, but that still left three pairs for me to debate over.


With over 20 pairs for both men and women, each pair coming in several different colors, the possibilities are endless. Plus, for those who like wearing prescription sunglasses they have those too - also, just $95.

So now, I just have to pick a pair and order them up! I'm leaning towards the Sinclairs at the moment... but I don't know quite yet. Which should I get?

A Light Lunch

There are just some days when pasta is a necessity. For lunch today I whipped together an impromptu batch of spaghetti with a spicy Italian sauce of my own creation. Using anything and everything I could find in my cabinets I mixed up enough sauce to spare for future rainy days and stored it as best I could in an old mason jar. To find out what ingredients I used, check below. 

For the sauce:
-Tomato paste

-Crushed tomatoes (I prefer Roma, but whatever will work)

-Chopped onion

-Chopped up artichoke hearts (they were previously kept in seasoning)

-Fresh garlic, minced

-A little olive oil

-Red pepper flakes

-Italian seasoning (you can use fresh rosemary, thyme, etc. but for a quick dish, just use the seasoning)

-Salt and pepper for flavor

1. Boil water, you'll want about 6+ cups of water
2. Before adding in the spaghetti (a fistful = 4 people), add a dash of salt to the boiling water to avoid stickage
3. In a separate saucepan, begin mixing the other ingredients at a simmer. Start with the tomato paste and a little water, gradually add as much or as little of the other ingredients as you like. It's all personal preference and to your taste. If you'd like a thinner sauce consistency, add more water. 
4. Once the spaghetti is soft enough (test with your teeth, or throw against a wall and see if it sticks) drain it and then quickly mix it in with the warm sauce. The heat makes the flavor bind with the spaghetti better, so you'll get a richer, bolder flavor. 
5. Top off with some fresh herbs if you like, and enjoy!

***If in a dorm room***

Use your microwave! Just because you're living without a stove doesn't mean you can't have good food. Boil water in the microwave, add pasta, put back in the microwave and cook until the pasta is soft enough. Then use jarred pasta sauce (add extra seasoning for different flavor) and heat up in the microwave. Combine and enjoy. You can do this for about $3-5 if you want to too, a pretty cheap lunch/dinner that isn't Ramen.

Technicolor Class

Shop the back to school collection at Planet Blue

Reading in the Park

Spent the day outside today, just me and a trusty livre while I soaked up the sunshine. I spread out a blanket on the grass and took most of the day to read A Year In Provence by Peter Mayle. 

Outfit Details: 

1. White sleeveless button down, see similar at Urban Outfitters
2. Jean shorts from F21
3. Brown belt from Ruche
4. Sunglasses from Ruche
5. Navy blue trainers from Keds or a cheaper pair from Target
6. Buy the book here

Summertime Sadness

Summer is nearly over, whether you've been jet setting across the globe or just sticking close to home. School is around the corner, and days at the beach will soon be few and far between. I've spent a lot of time travelling this summer, and though it was just up and down the east coast, I've seen and done a lot of things that I won't soon forget. So I hope you documented your summer, and I hope you find moments throughout the next nine months that are just as good. 

"Because he had no place he could stay without getting tired of it and because there was no where to go but everywhere, keep rolling under the stars..." - Jack Kerouac

Jewel Toned Obsidian

TopShop's "Sensationalist" lookbook for fall 2012 capitalizes on transforming the softness of skirts and heels into the rough black edges of structure. The important thing is, it works by taking looks that would typically be in lighter "work-appropriate" colors (the trousers and pencil skirt, for instance) and flipping them into jewel toned, gothy blacks. The style is coming to TopShop soon, see the lookbook here to pick your favorites when the hit stores this fall. 

Swedish Sophistication

Plain White Tees

Soft, easy, bleachable, and best of all: versatile. Simple white tees come in every size and shape and can be paired with just about anything. Tuck into trousers for sophistication, into a skirt for date night, or let hang loose over skinny (or boyfriend) jeans for lounging in style. Accessories or not, you'll always look chic - day or night. 

Check out these fabulous white tees at asos, forever21, urban, free people, topshop, and american apparel

Style Study

Shop all these looks and more here!

All Around Town

Today's been a long day, and it's not even 5 o'clock. Outfits like this are geared around constant changes in scenery - jumping from breakfast out with friends, to shopping, cooking at home, at a evening coffee rendezvous - it's easy and perfect for all day wear. 

 Outfit Details:

1. Khaki Shorts, originally from H&M - now sold out. 
2. Navy blue sleeveless, originally from Urban Outfitters (Pins & Needles Collection) - now sold out. 
3. Mustard Cardigan, from Urban Outfitters - $39 and still in stock! 
4. Aviators, from Urban Outfitters - $14, in two colors.
5. Pearl Studs, Tiffany & Co. - $350

Tuesday Lookbook

Chloe T.  is a 26 year old blogger from Melbourne, her look manages to hold on to femininity and practicality while wearing more daring pieces. 

Industrial Revolution

YMC is all about bringing together practical basics in order to make an individualistic outfit. It is industrial, structured,  and best of all: wearable. Go to class in comfortable trousers, or go out with friends in one of their dresses, either way YMC allows you to create across their natural color palettes.

"You are born modern, you do not become so." - Jean Baudrillard

Back to Class

It's time once again to start looking towards fall, and towards the return of classes. Studying hard doesn't mean a compromise of style, and Urban Outfitters' fall preview demonstrates just that. Layered prints, eye catching shoes, and cozy cardigans are just part of this season's collection.

       

See the full collection here