Big Cat

Rawr! It’s Le Tigre. God I love this shirt.

jeans: Kensie / boots: ASOS / t-shirt: Target / blazer: F21

Winterized

I purchased this dress over the summer, to wear to a wedding actually, but wanted to try making it work for winter wear as well. Even though I’m not usually too keen on bright colours and patterns, it’s nice to wear something vivid every once in a while, especially when it’s grey and wintry out. So I added some tights, heels, scarf, and a blazer and, ta da!

dress: Mexx / tights: Target / shoes: Marshalls / scarf: H&M / blazer: BB Dakota

Ivy League

How could I spend a few days at Yale visiting old friends and old haunts (not to mention several hours spent with my advisor Keith Wrightson (who, let me me just say, is one of the kindest and most brilliant people I've ever had the pleasure of working with) talking about all things early modern England – basically the perfect afternoon in my estimation), and not pick up a little sartorial reminder of my alma mater?

pants: Zara / shoes: Converse / jacket: Century 21

Vacation Shopper

On my recent trip to New York I didn’t have much of a chance to shop (I spent pretty much everyday visiting grad school friends and catching up) but I did make a quick jaunt to Century 21 and scored this jacket (which I’m mildly obsessed with). It’s not terribly warm, more of a fall than a winter jacket, so even though it will soon need to go into storage as I break out my truly heavy winter coats, I can’t wait to wear it some more come spring. Oh, I also scored a new blouse!

jacket: Century 21 / leggings: ASOS / boots: ASOS / blouse: Target / necklace: Aldo

Travels

After my few days back at Yale, it was off to New York for a week with friends and a little sight seeing. Here are a few highlights:

I finally made it to the Cloisters...and it was magical!

The Cloisters

Central Park

Central Park

The Met

The Met

The Met

The Met

Coney Island

Evening strolls

Yale

I followed up the conference with a two day jaunt to New Haven to visit all my old haunts, my academic friends still finishing up their PhDs, and my advisor.

Conferencing

Very belatedly, my next couple of posts will be dedicated to my recent trip to Connecticut and New York, my previous home for six years of grad school at Yale.

First up, my visit to Storrs to present a paper (on reconciliation and mediation among elites in early modern England) at the North Eastern Conference on British Studies. The conference was held on the University of Connecticut campus, to which I had never been before, and it was a really wonderful experience. My paper went perfectly and I got great feedback from the audience of scholars in attendance. In fact, it was so well-received that the keynote speaker for the conference (who attended my panel that morning) praised my work several times in his keynote address. So, yeah, I’ve still got it! I have to say that it was super weird being at a conference with a non-Yale name tag. First time in six years…

pants: Zara / shoes: TOMS / blazer: H&M / purse: Zara / blouse: BB Dakota / necklace: Target

This is What Happens When Halloween Falls on a Thursday and You Work

Continuing with the last of my Halloween posts, this is my October 31 work outfit. My costume was a bit too complicated to wear to the office so I opted to go with something that, while not a costume, still had a pretty Halloween-ish feel. And, honestly, this is probably one of my most favourite outfits from the last few months. All my favourite components are here: sheer, black, faux leather, skulls, and studs.

leggings: ASOS / cardigan: ModCloth / booties: Target / blouse: BB Dakota / necklace: from my mother

All Hallows

This weekend I celebrated Halloween - which, if you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you are probably aware is my absolute favourite time of year! Each year I spent weeks working on my costume and this year was no exception.

Hours of wig styling and fussing excessively with my makeup, my Baby Jane Hudson (from one of my favourite movies, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane) costume finally came together and I was really thrilled with the overall product. Of course pretty much every person at the bar (where, PS, I had one hell of a dance party!) thought I was an old Courtney Love. But that's actually still a pretty awesome costume in my book so I'm satisfied either way.