“I think hairstyle is the final tip-off whether or not a woman really knows herself.”
                                                                                                             - Hubert de Givenchy

the hair.

Ever since I was a little girl, my hair has been kind of a big deal.  People would stop my mom at the grocery store to comment on the girls with the "thick, red hair".  My sister and I lucked out in the recessive gene department (she has strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes, I got the auburn hair and green eyes -- thanks Mom and Dad!), and there has been no end to the comments about it since we were kids.

The hair is a mixed blessing, however.  Mine is very thick and wavy, and is riddled with awkward cowlicks.  It took me for-eh-verrrr to learn how to tame it in the slightest, which was especially difficult at a longer length.  It soaked up hair products like a plant that hadn't been watered in weeks.  The natural body and texture can at times make my hair poofy; the cowlicks can make it difficult for stylists to cut.  That said, I have had many different cuts ranging from almost elbow length hair with terrible bangs curled under with a 1" curling iron to collar bone length hair with a center part (bad choice!).

Here, follow me on an adventure through styles past:

This is how my hair was styled throughout most of my undergraduate experience.  I believe I instructed the stylist to give me long layers.  I stupidly washed this everyday, which meant that it was always dry and a little frizzy.  Do you see that slight bump at the crown?  That is natural, folks.  I did not tease my hair.  I brushed it.  On a side note, I really miss those frames.

This is the natural texture of my hair, y'all.  And yes, I do miss having hair this length sometimes.  I kept this angled bob for a while in my last year of undergrad.

 

Here I am making an awful face, but my hair is straight.  I had just moved to the east coast to start graduate school and was spending lots of time alone reading, hence the terrifying facial expression here.  

I finally chopped my hair in the winter of 2008 and for some reason started to feel more like myself.  I kept enough length to still wear my hear in its natural state and was reassured in the feeling I had by compliments about how the haircut "looks just right for you".  

This was essentially the same cut as above but with my hair straightened.  Why, yes!  Those are fox "ears"! 

In December of 2008, I decided it was time to go even shorter, so I went in with an asymmetrical cut in mind.  I really liked this cut, but found it difficult to keep up with, so it really only lasted for about three months before I changed things up again.

Every time my hair grows out a little, it gets what I lovingly call "flippy things" around my ears.  In fall of 2009, I was decidedly dealing with hair of a flippy nature.

And this photo begins the quick progression (regression?) to ever shorter hair.  Once I made it here, all I wanted was shorter hair for the ease of styling it.

By the fall of 2010, I was sporting an actual "pixie" cut, which started a strong move towards a different style than I had been sporting before.  Everything I chose was more tailored and much more feminine, probably to offset the boyishness of my hair.  I also started experimenting much more with makeup at this point.

This photo documents the shortest my hair had ever been (up to that point!).  I loved the ease of getting ready but was admittedly self-conscious about exposing so much of my face.

My hair vacillated in between the length in the former photo and what you see here for quite a while.  Around November of 2011, I decided to see what growing out my hair would yield...

And this was as far as I got before deciding that I hated it.  It didn't suit the aesthetic I was going for in my style at all, and despite compliments I was getting from folks, I chopped it all off again in June. 

 
I am not sure if I will get bored and try to grow it out again in the future.  I cannot imagine cutting it shorter than it is now, but we'll see...

so, I went shopping.

Oh, Tax-Free Week...I simultaneously love and hate you.  You always cause me to spend more than I thought I would, but I LOVE what I snapped up today, so I guess it's alright.

We're all on a budget these days, and while I have my share of nicely tailored pieces (mostly found via consignment, eBay, or purchased after months of saving), I can't seem to help picking up items from checking account friendly places like Old Navy, Forever 21, and H&M.  If you know what to look for in terms of construction, material, and cut, I feel like it is possible to make items from these stores last more than one season.  My favorite ponte knit black pencil skirt is something I paid $13 for 3 years ago at F21.  And it looks pretty cute with my grey J.Crew wool blazer, I must say.  

I've been thinking for the last while about what sorts of items I'd like to add to my closet for my favorite season.  My fall wardrobe tends to fall heavily in favor of teals, mustards, wines, and tans, and I kept that in mind as I picked up the items you see above.  I can't wait to mix and match these pieces with what I already have!

Without further ado, here is what I snagged up (clockwise from top left):

Old Navy Rockstar Jeans in Camp Fire wash
Old Navy Rockstar Cords in Aniseed
- I have loved this particular fit in this pant since I discovered it last fall, as they're perfect for tucking into boots or wearing with heels or flats.  They have so many colors in this pant right now -- I encourage you to go try them on for size!
Old Navy Boat-Neck sweater in black/white stripe
F21 basic cream sweater
F21 Essential Sueded Shift Dress
- This dress has the potential to be very versatile.
F21 Double Breasted Knit Blazer (I can't find a link to this...)
F21/Love21 Knee-Length Bodycon Skirt
- So, I'm not sure how work-appropriate this skirt is, but that doesn't mean that I won't try to wear it there.  It's lined and the color is great with browns, greys, or blacks.
F21/Love21 Pintucked Pleats Shirt
F21/Love21 Oversized Y-Neck Top
- I was very excited to find both of these blouses!   I've been looking to incorporate more of these into my wardrobe, and this is a great way to get two colors I adore into further rotation.

I'll likely be purchasing a few other items (like shoes!) in the next couple of months, but I'm really excited about this start to my fall wardrobe!

what I need to be wearing

Earlier this year, I made a promise to myself to at least try all of the things I'd wanted to try but had been too scared/intimidated/nervous about trying before.  For too long, I had let the "I can't" in my mind rule me and had sequestered myself away in my room.  So, I got a tattoo (more on that later).  I went to electronic music concerts and danced my little heart out.  I went ice skating twice and didn't fall either time.  I tried to make new female friends (why is this always difficult?) and made it a point to be more social.  I started a style blog.  I decided to take a summer class.  I also started doing CrossFit with a local group 4-5 times a week.

CrossFit has been a great thing for me physically.  I have done things that I never thought I'd be able to do and met people who challenge and inspire me on a daily basis.  I feel healthier and know that I will continue to grow in strength, skill, and ability as time wears on.  But...I still fight myself on a daily basis.  I am often beating up on myself mentally for the things I cannot do well or cannot do at full strength yet.  As inspiring as my friends are, it is hard for me to watch them lift heavier things than me at a faster pace.  I am embarrassed and often frustrated that I am not faster/stronger/more agile/able to endure more.

But hold on....isn't doing this regularly going to improve all of those things?  Yes, absolutely.  It would sure be a hell of a lot easier to improve if I wasn't constantly criticizing myself, though.  So what if I can't do a strict pull-up yet?  I will eventually, and for now I should be proud of my ability to do those that I can.  So what if I'm lifting 30-40 pounds less than women of similar size?  I'll get there in my own time and now is the time to focus on proper form and technique.  So what if I run slower than someone else?  At least I am showing up and putting in the work.

I need to show up to my morning workout with a smile on my face, grateful that I am healthy and capable of taking this on.  I need to keep going even when I think I can't.  I need to tell the "I can't/you're too slow/you're too weak" voice to shove it and get on with what I'm doing.

Annie Thorisdottir just won the women's competition of the CrossFit Games for the second consecutive year.  As impressive as her strength and endurance are, what impresses me most about her is that she smiles ALL.THE.TIME.  During the workouts?  Yep.  Once she's completed a WOD and perhaps not placed first?  Yep.  She has an amazing attitude about all of it.

I'm hoping that something like that can be learned, even after 28 years of being hard on myself.

‎"Let me think about the people I care about the most and how when they fail or disappoint me, I still love them, I still give them chances, and I still see the best in them. Let me extend that generosity to myself." - Frank Ze

let's hear it for New York

oh.so.dramatic.

dress: H&M, shoes: Steve Madden via Nordstrom Rack, shades: Michael Kors via T.J. Maxx

There is now a photo that exists where I am singing "Empire State of Mind", the song made famous by Alicia Keys and one Jay-Z, while posing in this very dress on this very rooftop.  Did I post that here?  No. Why?  I look like a fool, that's why.  And besides, aren't a couple of these shots dramatic and hammy enough on their own?  New York City apparently brings out my propensity for over-acting, dahhhhling.  I figured I'd spare you guys. 

After the Fourth, I took a couple of days off from work to enjoy a long weekend in the city with my loving boyfriend, and wore this on a day where we explored Central Park, the Lower West Side, and the East Village.  It was a hot one, y'all, and I might've forgotten to put sunblock on my pasty white shoulders (sorry Mom!).  Let's just say that it now looks like I am wearing a shirt with the same neckline as this dress regardless of what I'm actually wearing. 

This is the only dress I have in my closet with the ever-so-trendy high-low hemline, and I have to say I love the subtle version this particular iteration offers.  I'm not always sure I can pull off things like this, and I doubt I'd be comfortable in some of the more exaggerated versions I've seen on others, but this worked out well for me.  Anyone else out there tried this trend on for size?  If so, what are your feelings about it?

devil with a blue dress on?

dress/necklace: Forever 21, shoes: Seychelles via DSW

my normal state of existence.

Summer date night outfits are all about simplicity.  If the fabric even threatens to be cloying and uncomfortable, I leave it on the hanger.  Now that we're in the throes of oppressive heat and humidity, I have to consider several things:

- will it wrinkle immediately in the damp air?
- will it show sweat? (seriously.)
- am I going to want to claw it off my body five minutes after putting it on?

Enter this sheer, flowy thing of beauty.  Its classic cut and periwinkle-like color called out to me from the overstuffed rack.  Once I had it on in the dressing room, I knew it was coming home with me.  It's easy to wear, easy to accessorize, and it doesn't stick to me when I'm outside!  This time around, I went very light on accessories and chose to throw on my favorite vintage-y heels for a sweetly sexy feel.  I can't wait to play around with some edgier accessories with this one.

**Again, all photos taken by the extremely talented Sarah Culver.  Please visit her site!!

what I won't be wearing this weekend

photo by Sarah Culver

chambray: American Eagle, colored jeans: Old Navy, sandals: Target (suuuuper old) 

photo by Sarah Culver

photo by Sarah Culver

Alright, y'all.  It's been too long, and it's time I got back on this horse.  So here I am.

And nope...I won't be wearing this outfit this weekend.  Why?  It's pretty cute, I know, but it's just going to be too dang hot out for pants.  If it wasn't going to be nearing 100*, you'd bet I'd throw this on.  My boyfriend is probably sick of seeing me pair these items together, but I just can't get over how comfy it all is. None of it needs to be ironed (hooray!).  It's a throw-it-on-to-go-eat-at-the-diner kind of outfit, and you just can't go wrong with that...especially considering how often I actually do go to the diner.

If you'd asked me a year ago about wearing a denim (ahem...chambray) shirt, I'd have laughed in your face.  Something about shirts of this sort takes me back to a time in the sixth grade when wearing my mom's denim shirts with oversized khaki pants was cool (or at least I convinced myself it was...).  But this version, with it's feminine shape and pearl buttons (TEXAS GIRL ALERT), is certainly something I can get behind.  The colored jeans are actually jeggings (I know, I know...), but I love their flattering shape and the fact that I can wear them tucked into boots or with flat sandals.

I should mention that all of the photos in this post were taken by Sarah Culver, an extremely talented photographer and friend of mine.  She shoots the loveliest engagement and wedding photos, in addition to doing photography like what you see here.  I hope you'll take a moment to swing by her site!