+ a new tattoo
{ring 1} apple orchard in Mt.Horeb, Wisconsin
{ring 2} Madison Farmer’s Market (the best in the world)
“be bold”
Category Archives: Style
Shoes Made for Walking
Snaps of the shoes that made it through nine days of a trip through Europe (and some I wish that did).
Cheers!
Sarah
Let’s Get High (Waisted Swimwear)
High waisted swim suit bottoms could quite possibly be the best swim trend to ever return. Slimming and comfy (if you invest in a well-fitting suit), slightly modest but still totally sexy, I dove right into this trend. (Ok, I’m done with the puns, now, I swear.)
Gilly Hicks swim bottom, Aerie crochet swim top, American Eagle Outfitters aviator sunglasses, Aeire tassel necklace
Vintage 70s high waisted swim bottom with matching (cone bra!) bikini top, vintage perfume necklace, vintage Ray Ban sunglasses
Cheers!
Sarah
p.s. Don’t forget to follow my summer Pinterest board for lots of inspiration for these warm days.
*For full disclosure and all of that good stuff, I currently work at American Eagle Outfitters.*
Baby Went to Amsterdam
Ready for a quick trip through the stunning Netherlands? Scroll through my favorite photographs from my week-long stint in my sister’s new home.
Amsterdam
bike culture at its best
vintage shopping in Jordaan in Amsterdam
the moment I realized that I bought the right back pack for this trip
hagal slag (aka sprinkles. but doesn’t it sounds so much better in Dutch?)
Badgers’ pride in Den Bosh
beauty at the rijksmuseum
the Heineken Experience. there’s only one.
Hieronymus Bosch leaves his mark
Dutch roses in bloom
black eyelet high tops that served me well on cobblestone, train platforms, and bike pedals alike
stroopwafel- a dessert second only to gelato in my book
the best thing about The Netherlands? a beautiful and thriving bike culture. not to mention no hills.
the cathedral in Den Bosch
a little bit of our nanno in Holland
Want more inspiration from Amsterdam? Check out my newest Pinterest board:
tot ziens!
Sarah
So Fancy
It’s amazing what $12 can do. As you know, I’m one of those crazy people who picks out her outfits for the week on Sunday night. Who has time to worry about what they are going to wear at say, six o’clock on a Tuesday morning?!
Previously, I stuck some nails into my wall to hang my week’s outfits on, but this past weekend, with the encouragement of a very fun aunt (shout out, Aunt Jeanine!), I purchased a rolling clothes rack from Ikea.
Now my bedroom feels like a fancy Dutch blogger’s bedroom. Sort of.
Sprezzatura
Almost half a year in Europe and my sister‘s fashion sense is starting to look like a cross between Madewell and Florentine street-style (apparently, she was once confused for a true Italian) . I recently visited her at her new home just outside of Amsterdam; these are my favorite shots of her new style.
p.s. sprezzatura: a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it.
Pirates, Sparkle, & 16 Miles
Being away from family can be hard enough, but when holidays roll around it becomes that much harder. Thankfully, for Easter this year, my little sister was able to take a break from being a genius med student at RIT to spend the weekend with me here in Pittsburgh. The weather was perfect! And compared to Rochester, NY, it probably felt like heaven.
Before Michelle made it down here on Saturday afternoon, I snuck in a 16 mile marathon taper run. Why am I tell you this? Because sometimes, when you’ve run over 20 miles in one go, you start to forget that even 16 miles is impressive. This is my attempt at reminding myself that running 16 miles (or any amount for that matter!) is an accomplishment–one of which I should always be proud!
Sparkle was a key component of our Easter weekend attire.
I took Michelle to her first professional baseball game. The Pirates lost, but it was an exciting game no less, complete with the classic Pittsburgh Pirates fireworks show. (By the way, I don’t think I’ve ever been to a professional baseball game that didn’t involve the Brewers. Seriously. I saw the Cubs play them in Chicago…then again in Milwaukee…and now they played the Pirates in my new city. It’s like my Wisconsin ancestors are trying to speak to me…)
Instead of the traditional Easter ham dinner, we opted for homemade squash pizzas, complete with kale, Brussels sprouts, and vegan cheese. Recipe (Michelle’s original) soon to follow!
My Easter outfit of choice: Madewell fruit dress, Lands’ End Canvas Merino sweater, vintage Salvatore Ferragamo heels, statement necklace (a great find from a Chicago second hand shop), and a gorgeous sparkly clutch (a gift from an old roommate). Michelle looked gorgeous in an Loft eyelet tee, J.crew cardigan, Ann Taylor pencil skirt, and sparkly J.crew flats.
Hope you all had a fabulous Easter weekend as well! Here’s to more sunny days filled with Pirates, sparkle, and lots and lots of miles.
Cheers!
Sarah
More Sustainable Fashion? H&M’s Spring ’14 Conscious Collection
I’m not going to deny that the H&M Conscious Collection does come off a bit like “green washing,” but I’m also not going to deny that I appreciate H&M’s vision for a more sustainable fashion future Yes, fast fashion is driving waste up like crazy, and in my opinion, it’s a company’s duty to support the environment, community, people, etc. (stakeholder theory, anyone?), but some companies still choose not to put effort into sustainable initiatives. H&M seems to be giving it a good shot, and you can’t be upset about that. ALSO, their newest Conscious Collection is gorgeous.
You already know that I’m anti-pants, so it’s no surprise that I fell for the collection’s striking soft pants- both cuffed and open legged.
The pieces feel so versatile as well. This top could be dressed up for a casual work day or worn over a bikini on the beach.
Learn more about H&M’s vision for sustainability here.
What’s your favorite piece from the H&M Conscious Collection?
Cheers!
Sarah
The Story of a Bag
I own at least eight cardigans. Six pairs of soft pants. Five pairs of Ferragamo heels. Three pairs of Levi’s. Two watches. But only one bag.
Okay, that’s not totally true. I do have a clutch for special occasions, a handmade leather side bag for traveling, and a vintage leather Longchamp that holds my art supplies hidden somewhere in my closet. But generally speaking, there is only one bag that I use on a regular basis. Previously, I was using a Longchamp that I splurged on when I visited France….because France is probably the most appropriate place to splurge on a Longchamp, right? 😉
But three years later, my faithful bag was starting to deteriorate. It had travelled on subways in cities from Paris to Chicago, was thrown into many a trunk, and stuffed to its brim, and now it was finally going to receive some well deserved rest.
I hate purse shopping. Just as much as I dislike shoe shopping, honestly. It’s not that I don’t like getting new purses or shoes; it’s that the process is very tiresome. Shoes and purses take the brunt of your life. They are thrown around, walked on, tossed into corners, and they hold some of your most valuable possessions. That said, quality is key for me when finding a bag. But so is practicality. And, of course, price.
Well, thank goodness for Kate Spade Saturday!
For under $200 I purchased a black canvas and leather satchel that will see me through many years…and look polished and stunning in the process.
Where is your favorite bag from?
Cheers!
Sarah
Wearing Strength & Courage
For some reason, I don’t wear the jewelry we sell at Uncovered Artistry as much as you’d expect. Maybe it’s because I spend so much time photographing it, describing it, and otherwise trying to convince my family and friends to buy it, that I just sort of forget to don the pieces myself. But this week, I made an extra effort to pull out some of my favorite Uncovered Artistry pieces.
The bright spring colors of this neon flower necklace made for a breath of fresh springtime spirit to my otherwise (still) sweater-filled outfits.
And this purple ribbon bracelet, which I wore just about everyday this week, reminded me of the Uncovered Artistry Project and amazing women behind our jewelry every time I glanced at my watch. To me, wearing one of our pieces is like, in some small way, wearing the strength and courage of our artisans, who battled through (and survived fearlessly) domestic and sexual abuse.
That’s some pretty powerful jewelry.
Cheers!
Sarah
The Uncovered Artistry Project and boutique is a non-profit that sells the art of domestic and sexual abuse survivors. Learn more about us at our website: www.uncoveredartistry.com.
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