we are now open

Red attracts red. At least, that seemed to be the pattern on a brisk Friday night as I was wandering up and down 9th avenue. The quaint cupcake shop with the "A is for Apple sign" is completely contrasting to the harsh, metal quality of the garage a few steps away from it. That's the great thing about New York. The eclecticism. And what's the best way to kick off spring than with an open-back, tribal print Free People dress? (with tights on because of course it's 48 degrees and I take that to be spring.) The sun was setting but before it hit the horizon line and disappeared to make way for the moon, and it lit up a sliver of 9th avenue so we were able to snap some shots before it vanished. And it is with great pride, committed subscribers, that I declare: we are now open.  

Outfit Details: Dress: Free People, Tights: American Apparel, Necklace: Aldo Accessories

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collectively yours,

Keep Calm and Chiffon

writing on the tree

Granted I can't read exactly what's carved into the bark, but I know that it's important. It's something someone wants to remember. Something they really really want to remember. I've filled countless notebooks of lined paper with words over the years, but I don't think there's been anything that I've wanted to carve into a tree. No lovers names enclosed in hearts, or important dates. Yet. Which makes me only look forward to what's to come. What dates will make their way onto the skins of trees along the east coast, which people I'll meet that turn out to be essential to the fiber of my being. So many memories are going to fade and so many names are going to disappear into that endless pit in the back of our minds. I wonder which ones will stick. 

Outfit Details: Jacket: Buffalo by David Bitton, Top: Forever 21, Skirt: Lush

semantically yours,

Keep Calm and Chiffon 

sewer

The dreaded knock on the door. "Hey Austen, are you ready for breakfast?" At this point in the morning I am still standing in my room with my glasses on my head wearing my pajamas. "Uhhh... yeah one second!" I tripped over the carpet and proceeded to grab Mira's skirt off of her desk chair, the first black t-shirt I pulled out of my drawer and my go-to velvet boots. Done. I unwillingly threw a sweater over this ensemble to breakfast but I am so eager for spring that I went ahead with the photo shoot without it. My denim cutoffs and tank tops are practically bursting out of my drawers and I am right there with them.

Outfit Details: T-shirt: TopShop, Skirt: Free People, Boots: H&M

noted from the underground, 

Keep Calm and Chiffon 

patterned lineage

One of the highlights of my college that I was happily surprised to find when I actually got here was the Martin Art Gallery. The gallery space is vast and blank and about once a month this tabula rasa is covered wall to wall with painting, sculpture and everything in between (according to Rosalind Krauss and her expanded field of sculpture). Lisa Turngren and her Patterned Lineage series are featured this month. Her works are of mixed media and they force the viewer to consider females from both their own personal experiences as well as the societal ideals of how they should be seen. And on that note, I'm off to write a paper on this exhibit. #arthistorymajorproblems. 

"seam"-ingly yours, 

Keep Calm and Chiffon 

two-faced

There's nothing quite like picking up an over-sized t-shirt from a thrift store and cutting it into something entirely new, like a loose-fitting tank top. Pair it with a bleached, stained and studded denim jacket, some coated black jeans and your trusty Converse and you're ready to go. Seems way too easy all of a sudden right? I can name countless mornings that I've gone through so many different combinations of outfits only to end up in something as simple and reliable as jeans and a t-shirt. So maybe that's the lesson for the week: don't over think things, although the tendency to do so is strong. Sometimes the answer you're looking for is right in front of you. 

Outfit Details: Jacket: Gypsy Warrior, Top: Thrifted, Jeans: BP Nordstrom, Converse: Thrifted

bleached, stained, and studded, 

Keep Calm and Chiffon 

the catacombs

There's nothing better than discovering a secret photo studio hidden in the depths of the basement of the Center for the Arts. Literally nothing. This is one of the perks of having art majors as friends. They are constantly introducing you to new spaces and encouraging you to rediscover the spots you are so accustomed to walking past every day. It just goes to show you that art can exist in everything. 

"Then she was in the air, and Carlyle involuntarily held his breath. He had not realized that the dive was nearly forty feet. It seemed an eternity before he hears the swift compact sound as she reached the sea. And it was with his glad sigh of relief when her light watery laughter curled up the side of the cliff and into his anxious ears that he knew he loved her." - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Outfit Details: Dress: H&M, Long Necklace: TopShop, Necklace: Forever 21, Socks: Free People

constantly exploring,

Keep Calm and Chiffon 

22-22-22

I love the New York Times. I really do. I'm lucky that my school is subscribed to it and I always pick it up on Thursdays and cut out images from the style section and add them to my inspiration journals. And although the images are the first thing that capture my attention, they are nothing if not backed up with engaging, of-the-moement articles. Take this one from March 1st. It discusses how young people work tons of hours and are way under paid as a result. Check out this quote from the article:

"'We need to hire a 22-22-22,' one new-media manager was overheard saying recently, meaning a 22-year-old willing to work 22-hour days for $22,000 a year. Perhaps the middle figure is an exaggeration, but its bookends certainly aren’t."

Many jobs in fashion require people to be constantly attached to their smart phones and the thought of abandoning the device for even a moment could result in being so backed up in so many e-mails and text messages that you could go crazy. In this age of technology, new questions are raised such as, "Is a tweet considered labor?" Do all of the extra hours that various employees spend in front of a screen prove to make a considerable difference in the work they do? Hmm. Definitely something to ponder. 

this is not a blog post

calling all "fashion star" fanatics! on last week's premiere i heard this term being thrown around like a volleyball at the beach: "two-fer!" what may you ask is a two-fer? when you get two items for the price of one. this goes for jackets with removable sleeves, a dress that doubles as a coat, or in this case reversible denim. this is possibly the greatest idea for the on-the-go girl i've come across to date. this is especially awesome for someone who is traveling and wants to save suitcase space. and want to know the best part? they're from target. as a college girl who lives in a small town where going to target is like going to six flags i now swear by this store. they really have everything you could ever want. including this punny art history t-shirt. so click here if you don't get my art historical humor and click here if you want a pair of reversible denim for yourself. just promise me we won't wear them on the same day. please and thank you. 

Outfit Details: Cardigan: Gypsy Warrior, T-Shirt: Target, Jeans: Target

not really yours, 

Keep Calm and Chiffon 

baroque n

SHE LIVES!!! she being me. yeah it's been a while and for that i apologize. but i have to fall off of the face of the earth sometimes to maintain a subtle yet conspicuous air of mystery don't i? besides, i have been working on a few surprises and new post ideas for you all. one of them was thwarted by unforeseen technical difficulties which i am working on resolving. i will have time this week to try to sort that out because its....spring break?!?!?! how? no clue. literally not one. because that would mean i'm three fourths done with my freshman year of college. which can't be right. i must have screwed up the space time continuum here. if anyone can get in touch with michael j. fox, please report back to me immediately, if not sooner. and back to fashion for a moment, to complement today's get-up i believe cogsworth from beauty and the beast said it best: "if it's not baroque, don't fix it."

Outfit Details: Top: Prabal Gurung for Target, Brocade Shorts: Forever 21, Necklace: TopShop, Boots: Jeffery Campbell

incredulously yours,

Keep Calm and Chiffon