Cesi n'est pas une pipe

OMG, want! This would be perfect for the mantel of my future Sherlock Holmes-themed study. Right next to a skull and a knife stabbed through some papers. C'est charmant, non?

Pipe Match Holder by Jonathan Adler, the brilliant bastard. $42

Outfit Post: Give Thanks

I know, I know, I'm four days late on the whole Thanksgiving thing. My flatmates and I are celebrating it today, which means we've been hard at work making turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie! Despite all obstacles (ie, many traditional Thanksgiving ingredients being impossible to find in Ireland) we will persevere and celebrate a slaughter of a whole people families coming together and being thankful (I sometimes feel a little guilty loving Thanksgiving as much as I do, but I consider its contemporary meaning to have shifted some from its "yay pilgrims" origins). Also, it snowed AGAIN last night, so before getting to that turkey I wandered outside and took pictures at the cute park up the road from me.

Top: Old Navy (dress, altered by me)

Skirt: Penneys

Socks: Sock Dreams

Rain shoes: LL Bean

Outfit Post: Jane Eyre

I wore this outfit to see Jane Eyre at the Gate Theatre with my friend Carrie and some of her classmates. It was really well done; I've always enjoyed the story if only because of the strong, determined female protagonist (I find a number of other parts of the story deeply problematic, though...wife in the attic?). I wanted to complete my head-to-toe gold accessory kick with my gold shoes, but it snowed last night in Dublin! Miracle of miracles! I have to say, even though it was a pathetic amount of snow that has now frozen into dangerous ice, it still cheered me up a little. I've been in a bit of a homesickness funk, and feeling a little overwhelmed with the end of the semester quickly approaching, and a bit of snow put me back into the Christmas spirit I usually embody this time of year.

Headband: Penneys

Sweater: Anthro

Striped top: Target

Belt: Avoca

Skirt: Penneys

Socks (with tights underneath): Sock Dreams and Penneys

Rain shoes: LL Bean

Bonus snow picture!

Outfit Post: Dotty

I'm happy to show off (some of) the results from my yesterday's Thanksgiving-homesick shopping spree. I tried on another version of this skirt at Penneys but the fabric was just a bit overwhelming. I went down two sizes and changed from black dots on white to white dots on black and I think this one suits me much more! It's still a lot of skirt, longer than I generally wear, but I think it'll be really fun come summer and look forward to layering it while it's still cold.

 Broken doll model pose!

 Dublin is getting majorly chilly and there are rumors of snow! So here's a bonus outerwear picture to show off my new knit headband - keeps my ears nice and cozy. I was still cold, though, so I added high socks and a warmer scarf the second time I went out today. You've seen my big-damn-hero coat before here and here. I like swishing around in it dramatically, which is what one does in a big-damn-hero coat.

Tank, Cardigan: Target

Skirt: Penneys

Necklace: Accessorize

Tights: Penneys

Clogs: Avoca

Headband: Penneys

Coat: Target

Wrist warmers: Sock Dreams

Outfit Post: Keep Calm and Carry On

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm feeling a bit homesick being away for the holiday (my second favorite after Christmas), but the abundance of Christmas decorations around Dublin helps cheer me up! While I understand why in the US there's an increase in secularism and more multi-cultural decoration, it is kind of fun to see even the government buildings here getting the Christmas spirit. The GPO has the effing cutest Christmas windows right now!

I finished reading All Clear by Connie Willis last night, which takes place during WWII, mostly during the Blitz in London, so I was feeling a bit of war-time spirit in my outfit today. It helps that Dublin's starting to get a bit of a chill in the air, which makes me feel like I need to break out woolen stockings, knit sweaters, and slips galore to keep in the warmth.

Scarf: Vintage

Cardi: Gap

Blouse: Monsoon

Skirt: Penneys

Tights: Target

Boots: Aldo

Outfit Post: Orthopedic

Jennifer and I joked about getting me some orthopedic shoes because my foot has been hurting lately. I remembered these ones tucked away in the corner of Avoca's sale section and decided to go for it! I mean, if you're going to buy clogs, they may as well be metallic teal, right? Plus these fulfill a very old yearning of mine for some Swedish clogs, going right back to my semi-obsession with Hanna Anderson as a kid. Now if I could just get a set of striped long-johns...

Cardigan: Gap

Dress: Target

Lace-edge slip: Marks and Spencer

Necklace: Accessorize

Tights: Penneys

Clogs: Avoca

Outfit Post: Rainy Day

I had a super cute outfit all picked out yesterday, but I woke up to pouring rain, so I nixed it and went with this instead. I think ruffly sleeves add a little something to any outfit, however.

Cardigan: H&M

Tank: Target

Necklace: Monsoon

Jeans: Gap Outlet

Rain shoes: LL Bean

Outfit Post: Deathly Hallows

I wore this to go to a day-long conference at Trinity on Writing Irish Art History. It was terribly interesting and I met some great people (and got a few more ideas for my dissertation). Afterward (and after a few glasses of wine at the post-conference reception), I went with some friends to see Harry Potter! Sooo good. We went out for drinks afterward to discuss and ended up staying for a few hours talking about how books (including HP) had been so important in our lives as we grew up, each of us nerdy little outsiders. Awww. (PS I was totally Hermione before Hermione even existed, poufy hair and bossy know-it-all-ness included. I'm sure this surprises no one).

This top has such pretty beading, but the way it is cut in at the shoulders makes it difficult to wear casually. I tried here but I don't think the necklines worked well together.

Cardi: Penneys

Beaded top: Anthro

Skirt: Gap

Tights: Penneys

Boots: Aldo

Outfit Post: Pouf

I'm violating the double-volume rule. You know, if you're wearing a big shirt, keep a slim silhouette on the bottom and vice-versa. Whatevs, I'm such a rebel. Also, my light still hasn't been fixed so forgive the dark images once more (and note that my tights are a gorgeous shade of bright raspberry even though you can't tell). Also, every item in this outfit is from a different store! Miracle! Also also, I finally cut my bangs to a reasonable length again, hallelujah. 

Top: H&M

Pocketwatch necklace: Modcloth

Belt: Gap

Silver skirt: Old Navy

Tights: Penneys

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

Outfit Post: These shoes are made for talking

My classmates pointed out to me today that I always wear my gold oxfords when I have a presentation to make. It's true, because I think I stand up a little better in heels, I only brought two pairs with me, and I have yet to break in the other pair (arg, by the way). Can I tell you how fab it is to have such fashionable classmates? They always appreciate when I'm dressed cute (or have an awesome new bag!) and I get great tips on where to buy cute things from them. It's win-win, really. Also, my classmate Sarah also had a peter-pan collar today so we extolled their virtues together.

Blazer: Gap

Blouse: Penneys

Jeans: Gap Outlet

Shoes: Frye via Anthro

Outfit Post: Cleopatra

I was super excited to find this collar necklace, because I have been looking for a good statement-y, yet versatile, big necklace for those days when one of my usual delicate little things just won't cut it. I look forward to using it to add flair to some of my more basic outfits. Also, daylight savings time + one burned-out overhead light = dark pictures, so please forgive the poorly adjusted lighting in these!

That last pose is "why isn't my remote working?!"

Cardigan: Gap

Tank: Target

Jeans: Gap Outlet

Boots: Aldo

Necklace: Accessorize

Outfit Post: Airport

Jennifer's last day here in Dublin was today, so I wore this to drop her off at the airport. I miss my partner in crime already!

Sweater: Old Navy, via Jennifer

Cami: Gap

Dress: Target

Tights: Penneys

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

Such a cozy airplane outfit!

Outfit Post: Mimes

I kind of think I look like a hipster mime here, but I sort of like it. This top was another H&M purchase Jennifer convinced me to try out. It's a little out of my comfort zone, but that is definitely good sometimes!

 

Beret: Target

Long-sleeved top: Target

Striped top: H&M

Jeans: Gap Outlet

Boots: DSW

Necklace: DIY

 Again with the mocking. But I forgive her because of her sweet piano cardi and adorable sparkly beret.

Outfit Post: Angel Wings

These were travel outfits for our bus ride up to Belfast. Unfortunately, our trip was cut short by the aforementioned bugs, but at least we were cozy!

Love my new cardi from H&M! Thanks to Jennifer for convincing me to try it out.

Cardi: H&M

Tank: Target

Dress: Gap

Tights: Gap

Socks: Sock Dreams

Boots: DSW

Necklace: Vintage

Jennifer is kind of mocking my poses here. Hrmph.

Outfit Post: Shop til you drop

We went shopping like crazy people on Sunday. It was great fun and Jennifer came away with quite a haul (I came away with a few gems and some mental notes of things to re-check out).

Top: Anthro

Jeans: Gap Outlet

Shoes: Doc Marten

Jennifer wore one of her birthday gifts from me - tiny bow earrings, purchased from etsy seller Angelene. Love them!

Outfit Post: Pushing Buttons

I wore this outfit for a day out to the farmer's market with my girl, newly arrived from America! We had a mostly lovely visit together, marred slightly by two bouts of a nasty stomach bug! What with the sickness we didn't end up doing a lot of touristy things but luckily we like each other enough to act as nursemaids even on vacay.

 

Brand-new button OTK socks from Sock Dreams! Love them!

Sweater: Gap

Ruffle skirt: Target

Tights: Penneys

OTK Socks: Sock Dreams

Boots: Aldo

Necklace: DIY

 Bonus! This is what Jennifer wore to the Farmer's market. I don't know where she bought most of it, though, so you just get a cute picture.

Nigella

Ok, so now that Jennifer's birthday has come and gone, I can reveal my super-secret mission from a few weeks ago - a Nigella Lawson book signing! I have one very awkward picture as proof. Nigella called my camera "very serious." It was fab!

Isn't she gorgeous? Le sigh.