Images and Musings from Siena, Italy

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Sarah S.

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about my adventures in Italy. I think it’s probably because I sort of feel like I’m on a new adventure now (though Wisconsin isn’t quite as romantic). For about ten minutes prior to this post being written, I was frantically searching for my first journal from my time in Italy, whichI was sure had gotten lost in my move a couple months ago. Thankfully, the journal was safe, and I can share with you a bit about the first town in Italy I lived, Siena.

This morning, the valley below the hotel was foggy. The view was unbelievable.

Today I realized that so many buildings are adorned with Madonna paintings or sculptures. I tried photographing as many as I saw, but the pictures doesn’t do them justice. (This picture is actually from the neighboring town of Arezzo. Shh!)

Siena reached it prosperity peak right before the Black Plague epidemic in the 1300s (some parts of the connecting building are unfinished, and pillars without walls are testament to the tragedy of the plague).

There used to be 72 towers when the city was a medieval fortress town.

Siena, like Rome, adopted the Romulus and Remus image (to represent Siena’s power as a “second Rome”).

The city is divided into 17 districts, or contradas.

Ciao per adesso!

Sarah

Falling in Love with My Closet: Vintage Oversized Coat

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Sarah S.

Last week, I started blogging about some of my favorite pieces from my closet (check out my Ferragamo shoe collection here). It’s an attempt at reminding myself of all the amazing clothing, shoes, and jewelry that I’ve accumulated over the years– and more specifically over the last few months after graduation. Most of these pieces are vintage or antique, which I think makes them particularly unique and interesting. This is one of my newest finds; it’s a vintage (circa late 1980s or 1990s, I believe) oversized coat in a gorgeous cobalt blue. I’ve sen some oversized coats out there (Once Upon a Time fans will recall Mary Margaret’s cocoon coat from season one), including at Topshop and J.Crew, so I was thrilled to find this vintage piece for $20 at my local Good Will. The coat is 100% wool and is in great condition. Hate to say it, but I’m looking forward to the colder temps to try out this coat!

It’s Here! My 1960s Singer

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Sarah S.

My parents found this beautiful 1960s Singer sewing machine at a garage sale for (wait for it)…$40. Yep. And it’s never been used, so it runs beautifully.

I’d been searching for a sewing machine for a couple months (this is my “Congrats, on your job!” gift to myself), and this machine tops anything new I was thinking of buying. My first project is going to be chambray skirt made from last semester’s left over fabric and some much needed throw pillows. Keep your eyes open for some sewing tutorials in the future!

The message the original owner left on the case:

“Hardly ever used. (Didn’t like to sew!).”

Weird Book Sale Finds

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Sarah S.

What I like about small town book sales (or rummage sales, for that matter) is that you really never know what you will come across…or what might actually strike you as something you would buy. For $3, I picked up a B52s cassette tape (actually useful since my car’s CD player is broken), a 1970s vintage car directory, a coffee table book on Titian, and a Mister Rogers album. I think I spent a good five minutes holding these items and thinking hard about if I should bother spending good money on something so random, but even if I have to sacrifice a morning latte, the purchase was worth it.

Ciao!

Sarah

Halloween Decorating for Under $10

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Sarah S.

Now that I actually have a place that feels more like home than a one-bedroom dorm room, I thought I’d make an effort to decorate, even a little bit, for the holidays. I picked up this vase, a spider candle holder, and these festive placemats at the local Good Will for under $10. The beautiful dried corn was a gift from my friend who bought it at the Madison farmer’s market.

How have you been decorating for the season?

Sarah

Fall Mix Tape

Posted on October 9, 2012 by Sarah S.

I think I started creating fall mix tapes in high school, right after I read Perks of Being a Wallflower, and fell in love with the simple concept that music can -and usually does- define certain periods in your life. Well, I’m not starting school this fall, but I definitely have freshmen moments here in the real world. To bring back the nostalgia even more (and in a more positive way), I decided to create a Fall 2012 mix tape. Thankfully, I’m surrounded by a pretty substantial and awesome friend group, so it was easy to get them involved in the process. I had nine of my friends submit songs that reminded them of fall. However many they wanted and anything they wanted. I agreed in exchange to create cover art, curate the songs, and give everyone a free copy. The result was a 62 song collection, which I compiled into three albums: Coming Down, Going Up, and Arriving, because “The truth is of course that there is no journey. We are arriving and departing all at the same time.”

Here’s to arriving!

Sarah

A Week of Inspired Outfits: Friday

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Sarah S.

Well I did it! I eliminated five decisions each workday by creating five unique looks on Sunday. These outfits were inspired by some of my favorite brands, including Free People, Lands’ End Canvas, and j.crew. Below is Friday’s look. Like Wednesday, the Free People outfit served as more of an inspiration than a hard and fast guide, and I tried instead to capture the feel of the look.

Check out Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for more inspired outfits.

Free People

Jean Jacket, H&M

Top, Target

Jeans, American Eagle

Wedges, Lands’ End Canvas

For full disclosure and all of that good stuff, I currently work at Lands’ End (so it should be no surprise that I often end up wearing their merchandise!).

A Week of Inspired Outfits: Tuesday

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Sarah S.

This week, in order to cut out one decision from a day filled with many, I created an outfit for each day of the work week inspired by professionally styled outfits from some of my favorite brands. Below is Tuesday’s inspiration and my take on the outfit. See Monday’s outfit here.

J.Crew

Cords, Lands’ End Canvas

Sweater, Lands’ End Cavnas

Button Down, GAP

Heels, Salvatore Ferragamo

For full disclosure and all of that good stuff, I currently work at Lands’ End (so it should be no surprise that I often end up wearing their merchandise!).

A Week of Inspired Outfits: Monday

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Sarah S.

A friend and coworker recently told me that humans are only able to make a limited number of good decisions. After a certain point, our decisions become worse and worse. And when you consider all the little decisions one makes in a day, “What should I wear?” seems like a wasted decision that could be spent, say, deciding what your monthly wardrobe splurge should be. That said, I decided to make this week’s outfit decisions all at once. I first chose five outfits from some of my favorite catalogs (J.Crew, Free People, Lands’ End Canvas, and Anthropologie) to base my own outfits on. Each day’s outfit is inspired the professionally styled look…and is one less decision I will have to make that day.

Monday’s Inspiration:

Lands’ End Canvas

J.Crew

…And Monday’s Outfit! Cardigan, Lands’ End Canvas

Skirt, Lands’ End Canvas

Shoes, Lands’ End Canvas

Belt, Forever 21

For full disclosure and all of that good stuff, I currently work at Lands’ End (so it should be no surprise that I often end up wearing their merchandise!).

Autumn in the Country & What We’re Wearing

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Sarah S.

My sister and I spent the weekend exploring rural Wisconsin, and we visited a small apple orchard where we picked up a peck of apples, this amazing spoon ring, and two cider brats. It finally felt like fall, so we tried to dress for the season!

Sweater, Lands’ End Canvas

Jeans, Levi’s

Flats, Lands’ End Canvas

Scarf, silk from China (a gift!)

Glasses, vintage find from Madison, WI

Bracelet, Angela Caputi’s Boutique in Florence, Italy

For full disclosure and all of that good stuff, I currently work at Lands’ End (so it should be no surprise that I often end up wearing their merchandise!).