blip

So just as I was thinking that I could use some retail therapy, a little booth opened up in front of GQ today! This woman, Denise, sells handmade jewelry and bags etc. and it's all for a great price! I was so happy I bought a domino necklace and a ring from her. If you go to Berg, check her out! She'll be in the entrance of Seegers all day! She will also be at the veg fest in Bethlehem this weekend!  

college!!!!!

Happy September Everyone!!

I know what you're thinking. Austen, you are SO overdue for a post. And you are completely right. Thanks to everyone for being patient as I settled in and survived my first week of college (!) I love everything so far- the classes, the people, the campus. It's still surreal in some ways but nonetheless awesome. Even though my dorm doesn't have air conditioning it's still awesome. Mostly. This semester I'm taking a freshman seminar called Representing the Body in Art, Modern European History (one of my favorites), Spanish, Costume Techniques, Survey of African Art and Principals of Fitness and Wellness (yes, we're required to go to gym.) But as I said, so far it's been nothing but awesome. 

Outfit Details:

Tee: Topshop

Necklace: H&M

Shorts: Urban Outfitters

Sunglasses: Target

Shoes: Jeffery Campbell

Bag: Free People 

Here's a picture of my roommate and guest photographer this week, Mira! Love you Mir, thanks for helping me out with this! <3 Isn't her outfit fabulous?

Until next time, 

Keep Calm and Chiffon

excuses

I know, I owe you guys a post. But I think I'm allowed like a 10 day grace period for getting settled in here! Meanwhile I'm trying to post new things on the Tumblr and Instagram every day in order to stay connected. I will get you guys something good soon <3 Thanks for your patience!

Facebook: Facebook.com/keepcalmandchiffon

Tumblr: keepcalmandchiffon.tumblr.com

Instagram: @jane_aus10

Keep Calm and Chiffon 

life-size barbie

Hi there!

If you have a free moment before the summer comes to an end, stop in to the city and visit the main floor of the D building on the FIT campus. They have this cool Barbie display up right now that is a project for visual display students. The garments pictured below are all made of Barbie parts from the dolls themselves and the accessories. It's pretty kick-ass, not gonna lie. Sorry I don't have a real post today because I MOVE IN TO COLLEGE TOMORROW! Exciting, I know. But enjoy these photos for now. 

Until next time, 

Keep Calm and Chiffon 

gears

Hello all! 

I am in the homestretch of my time at home. It's so weird to think I'll be all packed up and headed to college in just 5 short days. The past few weeks have been filled with seeing friends, late nights, mosquito bites, dinners, parties, and just plain fun. I am so happy and thankful that I got this summer to just be free and have time to do things like sleep over at a different friend's house every night for a week or start a fashion blog initially just to see a different layout and suddenly have an international audience with readers everywhere from next door, to Russia, Italy, Hong Kong, Germany and the UK. Basically, it's been a wild couple of weeks and I'm so grateful for the memories made and the beginning of college! 

Outfit Details:

Top: Urban Outfitters

Pants: Forever 21

Necklace: So Good

Shoes: Sam Edelman

Bag: ASOS

As an extra part of today's post, I've gotten a request to break down exactly what it is I do all day. What kinds of things does  a blogger do on a day-to-day basis? Remember, this is during the summer when I have time to be running around thinking about fashion 24/7. But this is a day in the life of a summer fashion blogger. 

9:29am Roll out of bed and convince mom to go get iced coffee and a flagel from David's while I skim the fashion headlines on wwd.com

10:02am Get dressed!!

10:35am Blog photo shoot

11:25am I have a meeting with a designer who wants to review my sketches and turn one of them into a sample! If the sample turns out the way we want, we're going to make more and sell them in her store! More about this later.

12:00pm Off to work at the boutique!

5:00pm After work stop by Cat's house for a chat

6:45pm While mom's making omlets for dinner, I edit and post the photos from the shoot earlier today.

8:10pm Swing by the bookstore and pick up the September issues of Harpers Bazaar, Vogue,  and People Style Watch.

9:00pm Turn on pretty little liars and see what they're wearing!!!

10:30pm Go through my google reader feed. I am subscribed to all my favorite blogs and I flesh out my favorite pictures to add to my tumblr inspiration blog (keepcalmandchiffon.tumblr.com)

12:00pm Lights out!

And there you have it! Until next time,

Keep Calm and Chiffon 

glittering oxfords

Today was an overall lazy, gloomy, meh kind of day. Wanna know why I know this? Because this morning was one of those mornings where I stared at my closet and thought to myself, "Oh my god. I have nothing to wear." 

Obviously, this is not the case. I have dozens of things to wear, but my creative juices, much like everyone else's can occasionally fail me. I'm going to share with you one of the best solutions to this problem. This solution comes from none other than legendary fashion consultant, Tim Gunn. His solution to the "nothing to wear" dilemma  is what he likes to call, "The Uniform." That one outfit that is your go-to no matter what the situation is. For him, it's a black suit. For you it may be a dress and tights or jeans and a t-shirt. Think about what you're most comfortable in and what is the most universal thing that you will be able to wear to work or out to dinner.  

You could also browse lookbook.nu or chictopia.com and see what others are wearing today, create an outfit (or two, or three) trying to remix the little black dress, or pick one standout piece like a sequin top or bright jeans and let the rest of the outfit be neutral and relaxed. I hope this helps shake some outfit anxiety out there and gives you the freedom to have fun with what you wear. 

Outfit Details

Top: Forever 21

Bag: Free People

Skirt: Forever 21

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

Ring: So Good 

Necklace: Buffalo Exchange

Okay and on another note, I have absolutely no reason to have a fashion show. BUT if I did, here's a playlist of 10 songs that I would love to see be used in fashion shows. Some of them aren't exactly what you'd expect to hear, but that's the whole point of the fashion industry, right? To keep people on their toes? Yeah, thought so. 

Fashion Show Playlist:

1) Let Go by Frou Frou

2) All of Me by Tanlines

3) So Post All 'Em by Yacht

4) Walking on a Dream by Empire of the Sun

5) Helena Beat by Foster the People 

6) Drumming Song by Florence + the Machine

7) Glittering Cloud by Imogen Heap

8) Young Folks by Peter Bjorn and John

9) Chimes by Friendly Fires

10) Sail by AWOLNATION

Until next time,
Keep Calm and Chiffon

countdown

Howdy! (Sorry I know that's so cheesy but it's late and I'm tired and it was that or Aloha)

Apparently I move in to my dorm in two weeks! TWO. WEEKS. On one hand, I could not be more excited, and on the other it feels like wrong. I should be headed off to soccer preseason or those early student government meetings in August. I should be planning a look for picture day and start the never-ending search for a prom dress. But none of that is happening, which is weird in a good way.

Thanks to my neighbor, Taylor, for helping me with this shoot. I'm still waiting on a girl from my FIT class to send me the photos from our photo shoot in the city, but I wanted to get a post up for you guys!  Speaking of FIT, if you want to visit the blog of one of my classmates follow this link http://thefashionchica.com/2012/08/pre-college-program-part-2/ and see if you can spot me in the post! Also, in case you're wondering, yes, I dyed my hair blonde. Hey, it was time for a change. Besides, it's just hair.

Outfit Details

Top: Necessary Clothing

Bag: Free People

Shorts: Necessary Clothing

Little Bracelets: DIY

Cuff Bracelet: Forever 21

Shoes: Jeffery Campbell

Necklace: Topshop

So, as I'm sure you can guess, I have a lot of things to do, places to visit, people to see, before I go. And you're right. Which is why I'm cutting this one short. 

Until next post,

Keep Calm and Chiffon