Dress - vintage, cuffs - antique, shoes - Aldo

I'm glad to be wearing dresses again, with sandals no less. I'll admit, I'm the worst multitasker ever, but I'm catching a few moments of the new ABC show "My Generation." It seems staged and I can't tell if it's supposed to be reality or not - but I like the concept. But I'm a sucker for anything nostalgic... says the girl who still has months until graduation.

I think I should take a step back from the idea of applying to college and just reevaluate as much as possible while keeping the effectiveness of doing so. I feel that my extracurricular activities are sorely unimpressive, but I'm very passionate about what I am involved in... however, for the most part, my school is uninvolved.




Anyway, I'm a bit indecisive - it occurred to me that for the past year and a half, I've been writing this blog. I think the amount of time I've put into it has shown dedication, and it definitely shows my creative side. I've spoken at a conference in NYC, I've written for an online magazine - but neither of those feats make much sense without mentioning this little blog of mine.

But it's rather personal - definitely more so than my Facebook profile or anything of the sort. I have only mentioned it to a few people, but they don't seem to "get" it. I can't decide if including my blog as a hobby is worthwhile/if it makes me stand out... but maybe I'm just being negative.

xox Catherine

PS I definitely feel like writing opinionated personal essays. I don't know that they'll show up here, but there's a good chance considering I don't really have a classroom to share them with...

Just exactly like I used to

Dress - vintage, necklace - thrift, cuff - antique, shoes - Deena and Ozzy

Haven't worn these shoes in a while... shed my cardigan after 9:30am when the weather got a bit warmer. I took a nap promptly after taking these photos, was awoken by my dog and a visiting puppy, and have since eaten an entire bag of edamame.

Classy, right?




Hope all is well, xox Catherine

Today

Blazer - H&M, necklace - antique, cuff - antique, gray tank - Target, pants - borrowed from my sister, boots - Deena and Ozzy

So, I can't say I was quite as positive today as I was yesterday, but I ended up crashing on a reclining chair in my living room after taking these photos... I was tired. Anyway, I'm finally getting a better idea of how cameras functions, thanks to photography class. I'm pretty excited to shoot with film... I already have a few ideas for locations. And I decided that I want to (somehow) save up for a 50mm f/1.8 lens because it seems pretty awesome.





My sister remarked she needed to take these pants back to college with her, but they no longer fit properly/they're mine until further notice. Truthfully, I want a straight-leg pair.

The weather is supposed to warm up this week and I'm so glad and I hope I'm not as tired as I was today and I want to keep my positive perspective.

xox Catherine

Not much to say

Shirt - Olive & Olivia, necklace - thrift, cuff - antique, skirt - H&M, flats - Urban Outfitters

These photos are a little dark, I suppose, but I assure you that I took them as soon as I arrived home from an appointment. Gulp.




I haven't really much to write - truthfully, my thoughts are delightfully unorganized right now, so anything I would say would be nonsensical/weird. So I'll refrain because I want to! But I'll just say - I've had a good day. I'm feeling optimistic.

xox Catherine

So it goes

Cardigan - BDG, necklace - antique, dress - H&M, bracelets - antique, boots - Deena and Ozzy

Wore this to get my senior portraits taken... which was a cringe-worthy awkward experience, involving people in my classes that I never talk to and a few odd staff members. But such is high school, right?

I feel like all I'm wearing lately is in the little bubble of my comfort zone, excluding the maxi dress and 5" zip-up wedges. But frankly, I'm not really in the mood to try anything ground-breaking, you know? Not that it's a bad thing, or a good thing. It's just how it is.





Looks like I'm going to go to a Japanese restaurant with my parents for my mom's birthday... and perhaps later I'll go out and about. It's really starting to feel like fall, which has become a tad bit more bittersweet rather than just plain bitter.

Meanwhile, I'm still stressing over the idea of applying to colleges but not taking any actions to prevent said stress. Maybe I could go to the bookstore and flip through some "best colleges of 2011" books. Wouldn't hurt, right? And I still have to get my portfolio together and such is life and so it goes.

xox Catherine

Untitled

Tshirt - random, vest - gift, jeans - H&M, bracelets - antique, wedges - Forever 21

Wearing these shoes again despite the fact that they're uncomfortable... but I think some insoles might enhance them. I kind of seem to have attitude in these photos, which is just hilarious because I tend to be the least intimidating person ever. Yet some people still tell me I am... I'm 5'3" and pretty tiny. I'm rather quiet and I laugh a lot. Not very scary, in my opinion!





I made some pasta with garlic broccoli for my mom and I. Truthfully, I enjoy cooking for people who are receptive, but: some tend to sign off anything I make because of the fact that I'm vegan, and if it's really delicious I want to eat it all myself.

Anyway, I'm finally getting prepared to get prepared to apply to college. Sounds so indirect... but it'll happen sooner than I'd like to admit!

And I have the October issue of Elle sitting on the table next to me. Looks like I'll be able to avoid my homework a little longer...

xox Catherine

Head in the clouds

Cardigan - H&M, necklace - antique, dress - Volcom, cuff - Amrita Signh, boots - Doc Martens

Pretty sure I've worn this exact outfit before... but I could be mistaken. It was a bit chilly this morning and the college building is freezing, whereas the high school is similar to the outside temperature or far hotter than outdoors. Go figure. Today was picture day, but since I'm a senior the picture is only for ID purposes... but I didn't even have time to get it done.

Clearly, I'm still into the Docs+dress combination, but ideally, I would be able to create outfits in which Docs are everyday, "normal" shoes. Yes, I think they're pretty normal - but I'm getting tired of ensembles where Docs are worn to toughen something up. I doubt that made any sense!





I took a nap, but I'm still tired. Was planning on making pasta with garlic broccoli, but said nap interfered with motivation. Meanwhile, I should begin to consider college applications/finally cut my list in half. I really don't want to apply to more than five schools, but being me, I feel that this is such a high-pressure decision so it has the be the "best," for me of course.

On another note, my skin looks purplish. How silly.

xox Catherine

A typical Tuesday

Dress (worn as top) - H&M, necklace - made by me, skirt - Target, cuffs - antique, boots - Deena and Ozzy

Today was a 10:30am arrival day - definitely preferable to 8am. I actually slept eight hours! Go me. Regardless, I'm tired now. The day has wiped me out and I can't wait to curl up into bed.

I've had this outfit in my head for months, but it became too warm before I could wear it. Lo and behold, the temperatures are dipping once again, so wearing something with sleeves is appropriate.




Past two days, in photos:


Top: from yesterday... I doodled on the notebook I carried around at Chictopia.10, and I think it'll become a bit of a blog/inspiration/etc. notebook to carry around in my bag.
Bottom: went gallivanting after school with a friend today - he needed to take photos for a class, so I accompanied him on his journey and "modeled" a little bit.

Hope all is well, xox Catherine

Chictopia.10: The Outfit

Cardigan - vintage, necklace - made by me, dress - Asos, bracelets - antique, ring - made by me, nail polish - Office (American Apparel), bag - Nich boutique, wedges - Forever 21

Jasmine from Transient Withdrawal was kind enough to take these photos for me... in the rain, nonetheless! I met her last February while in NYC, but we didn't have much opportunity to talk. We chatted a bit more this time - she's so cute!

The conference itself was incredible! I was a bundle of nerves in the beginning, since I was speaking on the first panel, but afterward, I was able to relax and enjoy what other tastemakers had to say. Naturally, the crowd was very well-dressed... so many different styles! So many covet-worthy pieces!



I opted to wear something simple (surprise, surprise) for my day-trip to New York. Look, I'm wearing a maxi dress! I suppose the fact that it's not dragging on the ground makes me look taller, but it's a petite size. But in all seriousness, I felt tall (despite the amount of heels in the room!)

I like to think that normally I appear put together, but by the end of the day, I was a tired mess... my feet were killing, I was toting a dripping umbrella, and my dress was being splattered with rain. However, I threw my Keds on after stopping to purchase a birthday gift for my mom, then headed over to Maoz Vegetarian (seriously, probably the cheapest food in NYC).

I have to admit, I fell in love with the Jeffrey Campbell 99 wedges last fall, but didn't have the money to buy them/the lining is leather. So understandably, I was thrilled upon discovering these at Forever 21... which means I caved. I haven't purchased much from there in a while. However: they hurt. Not blister-inducing, but they put such strain on my feet. Ow.




I'll be posting more on the conference itself once I obtain more photos - I have a few of my own, but I want my readers to see me speaking! Ha.

xox Catherine

PS I love this nail color.

Home from Chictopia.10

Dragged myself off the train less than an hour ago... I'm so exhausted. But I had an amazing day in NYC at Chictopia.10 - still can't believe I was invited to speak there! It all feels like a pleasant dream.

More photos to come soon - I've some homework to do!

xox Catherine

PS Thank you to anyone who introduced herself today! I was incredibly flattered to be approached by readers, especially ones who told me they follow my blog religiously! Such a huge compliment.

Still

Top - Asos, necklace - flea market, bracelets - antique, rings - self made/random shop, skirt - Element, sneakers - Keds

I probably would've opted to wear sandals because my school lacks air conditioning, but I was planning on walking from one school to the other. Luckily, halfway there, a friend was able to drive me the rest of the way. And so it began.

Today wasn't too eventful - still just getting into things.





Looks like I'm shortly leaving to go to an all-ages club... which I can do because I don't have class tomorrow, and on Thursdays I don't have to wake up until 9:30am anyway! This should be interesting. Hope all is well!
xox Catherine

Slip inside the eye of your mind, don't you know you might find...

Dress - Asos, jewelry - mostly antique, handbag - Nich, boots - Deena and Ozzy

It's been too long since my last outfit post, but I've already explained so I'll save the time...

Today was my first day back at high school. I've already started classes at the community college, but of course, there's a huge difference between the environment of the two. My school now feels like a hospital - all "new" walls in the school are painted white. Basically, I have the urge to paint them.

Hopefully between now and January I'll actually learn something about photography - I'm taking a class at school, and I'm looking forward to it. None of my classes seem too dreadful.





When I woke up today, I noticed two packages on my table - one containing the textbook I don't need tomorrow (and the other one will get here tomorrow, of course), and one containing five dresses (!) from the giveaway the super-sweet Maggie conducted on her blog, lifesize paperdoll.

So far, so good!

xox Catherine

PS Guess who contributed to the 9th issue of Style Sample magazine... check it out!

Lookbook: Suno F/W 2010

As summer (really) dwindles away, I've been outfitted in lackluster outfits... the chill in the air has led me to actually put on pants when I leave my house around 8pm. I've accepted the possibility that autumn might be on its way (read: I'm still in denial), so I figured absorbing a bit of inspiration wouldn't be harmful. In comes Suno, the label started by Max Osterweis in 2008.



Can we just agree that these Kenyan-crafted garments are wonderful? The prints? The colors? The silhouettes... Yes? Okay then.

So as I end my summer (hopefully on a good note), enjoy this and expect an outfit post soon.

xox Catherine

The Lady Appears

Images from: "Factory" Tokion Magazine, photographed by Harper Smith, styled by CC & Jules

Unfortunately, I don't have an outfit post today. I was debating taking photos until I spilled iced tea in a bizarre manner. Seriously, count on me to be a klutz when you wouldn't even think it's possible.

I wish I could pull of blonde hair of any shade. In other news, my schedule is all sorted out - and I won't have to go into high school on Tuesdays/Thursdays until 10:30am. I feel like a winner. Also, I finally took my permit test yesterday and I passed. Went "driving" in a too-small parking lot today, and I felt like it was a scene out of That 70's Show... except I'm not Eric nor is it presently any time in the 20th century.

xox Catherine

PS I scanned these, but discovered there's a free digital edition available here.

PPS I want your feedback - which types of posts do you prefer? Outfits? DIY? Inspiration? Let me know!