Welcome to the good life! (Did you catch the reference?)
If you have never spent a summer in Chicago, you're missing out. Of course, I am romanticizing the city a bit, but summer has always been the time when I get to reconnect with friends and spend more time with my family. It's also the time when the weather is more consistent and Chicagoans can count on some sunshine.
If you have never spent a summer in Chicago, you're missing out. Of course, I am romanticizing the city a bit, but summer has always been the time when I get to reconnect with friends and spend more time with my family. It's also the time when the weather is more consistent and Chicagoans can count on some sunshine.
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With graduation fast approaching (gasp!), my mom wanted to send out announcements to our family and friends. Just wanted to quickly share a few of my favorite shots from the mini photoshoot I had. My dress is from J.Crew, my shoes are from Banana Republic, and graduation cap was generously lent to me to by my dear friend Liz. Of course, more pics from my actual graduation to come. June 10th can't come fast enough!
The question of the night: who needs the Met Gala when you have the Heritage Ball?
The Organization of Black Students hosted its annual Heritage Ball this past Friday at the Stoney Island Arts Bank. UChicago Professor Theaster Gates is behind the transformation of the 1920s bank into a community center, library, art gallery, and media archive. This was the first time the Heritage Ball was off campus and it couldn't have been held at a better location. About 100 students came out to the event and everyone looked really nice. Considering how stressful this past week has been for lots of students, I think Friday was a much needed relief. Also, we managed to avoid destroying any of the art, so I'd say it was a success.
The Organization of Black Students hosted its annual Heritage Ball this past Friday at the Stoney Island Arts Bank. UChicago Professor Theaster Gates is behind the transformation of the 1920s bank into a community center, library, art gallery, and media archive. This was the first time the Heritage Ball was off campus and it couldn't have been held at a better location. About 100 students came out to the event and everyone looked really nice. Considering how stressful this past week has been for lots of students, I think Friday was a much needed relief. Also, we managed to avoid destroying any of the art, so I'd say it was a success.
As my girl Ariel pointed out, there were some very serious Solange vibes going, so we of course had to attempt to channel them in our pics.
I borrowed a dress from my roommate/bestie/ride-or-die Natalie. She came through for ya girl. Like, I said in my last post, your friends' closets are prolly lit. That's Maya killing it in the jumpsuit gifted to her for her 21st birthday by the stunner in the red, Christy.
Ariel came through with the fit from Uniqlo with the tattoo as the perfect accessory. And her twistout was on some next level stuff.
Are you crying tears of black girl magic yet???
S/O to the greatest roommates of all time. That's Natalia in the black and Natalie in the silver. We all got cool while studying abroad in Spain and relive those memories whenever we need a good laugh.
Some of my favorite ladies from the rugby team! I'd say we clean up real niiiice.
Get at me on the gram and twitterverse, @all_worn_out.
Coming out of the dark into the light with the warm weather in the Chi. The sun always serves as a solid pick-me-up, so I decided to show my face on the interwebs. Also, Lemonade. I can't even say much right now...but know that Beyoncé and James Blake working together is one of the most overwhelming facts in the world right now.
Over winter break back in December, my mom gave me one of her skirts from when she was my age. Or I think I found it and took it upon myself bring it back with me to Chicago. I wasn't too sure if I liked it, but as a true fashion girl, I'm drawn to things that are maybe kinda ugly. So, I took it upon myself to make it into an item I really liked.
I kept the texture and print mixing grounded by picking up on the secondary colors in the skirt -- the black and red.
Over winter break back in December, my mom gave me one of her skirts from when she was my age. Or I think I found it and took it upon myself bring it back with me to Chicago. I wasn't too sure if I liked it, but as a true fashion girl, I'm drawn to things that are maybe kinda ugly. So, I took it upon myself to make it into an item I really liked.
Shoutout to my awkward leg. I paired the skirt with a black tank gifted to me by my cousin over winter break as well. I threw on my favorite tights and double monk straps from J. Crew.
This is just a friendly reminder that some of the coolest pieces might not be something new. Picking through your mom's closet or your friend's closet is a cheap and earth friendly way to refresh your own wardrobe.
Check out my instagram @all_worn_out to see why I've been gone for so long. Ya girl is officially DevaSTating...
One of the things I love about my friends is that there is a common understanding between us that we can send each other texts that read, "I look really good today," and we won't think anything of it. Arrogance doesn't exist in our circle. If you out here loving yourself, let everybody know. Ain't no shame in that. So, when Chase hit me up to tell me that his look on point, I figured we should make a photo shoot out of it.
You all might remember Chase from a Campus Crush post he was featured in almost a year ago. Crazy that it's been a year already?! But, yea, expect to see more of him in the future. He claims that he will be showing out come spring quarter. So, now that I've put this in the internet, he'll have to come through.
Last Friday, MODA, UChicago's resident fashion focused student organization hosted their annual fashion show. It's a solid excuse to get off campus and dress up. My night got off to a rocky start when our Lyft driver got lost and whipped the car into an alley and we all thought we weren't gonna make it out of that ride alive. But, alas, we survived to tell the story. After that, the night was smooth. It's always cool to see UChi dress up, so I snapped some pics of my favorite looks from the night.
Long time, no blog, eh? School started and it managed to get the best of me. This quarter has been super busy, but busy in a good way. I'm loving just about everything I'm doing. And that, my friends, is a great feeling.
Since I have been so busy, I haven't had much time to take pics, so I'm going to share some snaps from Detroit & Spain. But, rest assured, I still turn up for class. Last summer, I visited my friend Maya in Detroit and we had a little photo-shoot. I met one of my blogger crushes, Lauren, and she recently did a write-up of our meeting last summer. Lauren goes to Stanford (slay) and has a great sense of style (go awf). Her blog is called This is Motown and is a solid mix of fashion, food, and critical essays. Show her some love and check it out.
Natalie and I were just talking about trying to incorporate our nicer dresses into our everyday rotation and layering is a great way to make a dress more casual. I just took some photos of her today in which she layered a sweater over a dress. It creates for a more interesting look and lets you wear your cute summer dresses in cooler weather.
Since I have been so busy, I haven't had much time to take pics, so I'm going to share some snaps from Detroit & Spain. But, rest assured, I still turn up for class. Last summer, I visited my friend Maya in Detroit and we had a little photo-shoot. I met one of my blogger crushes, Lauren, and she recently did a write-up of our meeting last summer. Lauren goes to Stanford (slay) and has a great sense of style (go awf). Her blog is called This is Motown and is a solid mix of fashion, food, and critical essays. Show her some love and check it out.
At said shoot, I wore a Derek Lam 10 Crosby dress. Derek Lam has been one of my favorite designers for a while and his 10 Crosby line offers his designs at a lower price point than his namesake brand. So, I was bout it bout it when I found this dress for the low at Neiman Marcus Last Call. Lauren and I didn't tell each other what we were gonna wear, so it was a happy coincidence when we somewhat coordinated.
As the temperatures began to fall in Spain, I decided to get creative and weather-proof that outfit. I remember getting dressed that morning in Spain and hoping that this outfit would work: stripes with plaid with lace, not a usual combination for me.
Whenever I layer a shirt under this dress, I make sure there is at least one color in common to keep the pattern mixing from being too overwhelming. In most cases, it's navy blue that stays constant between the two pieces. The plaid stays true to the American sportswear feel of the dress and the lace tights simultaneously throw off that American sportswear feel.
Stay warm, amigos. Follow ya girl on Twitter, @all_worn_out. I say funny things. Occasionally. Big thanks to Abby for the pictures in Detroit and Natalie for the pictures from Spain. ~~so traveled~~
First post of 2015! Woo! As you all can see, I took a bit of a break from the blog. And, lemme tell ya, it feels oh so good to be back. I got back to the States at the end of November and have been coolin it ever since. It was a great feeling to be back in my hometown and seeing familiar things and being in the presence of family, blood and chosen. I have mad photos from Spain to share, so we'll throw it back to the land of flamenco and tapas for this one.
Natalie and I decided to do a bit of color coordination for this post. We had talked about how some colors are more difficult to wear together than others, so we decided to try our hands at wearing navy blue and black together. And it turned out pretty well, if I do say so myself.
Since my leggings were so boring, I slipped on my Dope Boy Magic windbreaker to stay dry in the rain/stunt. This windbreaker was one of those pieces that I absolutely had to have. I dragged my best guy friend up to Fat Tiger Workshop, the brick and mortar storefront for DBM, Vita, & other streetwear brands, the day after the summer line dropped and snagged this gem. All of my pieces from DBM deviate from my typical, preppy-ish style, so I always like wearing them to mix things up. I really appreciate the humor and intelligence that goes into making a great piece of streetwear and the guys behind DBM are pretty great at finding the right balance. Fun fact: I was the first woman to buy this windbreaker #trendsetter.
From wearing this a lot over the summer in Chicago when I was messenger (don't ask...) and had to deliver stuff no matter rain or shine, I learned that it is the easiest way to draw attention to yourself. And that actually applies to my other DBM pieces, too. So, just so y'all know, if you don't want randos talking to you, you probably shouldn't step out in your Dope Boy Magic joints.
I'm missing home like crazy, so I love wearing things that remind of Chicago. You can take the kid out of Chicago, but you can't take Chicago out of the kid. Also, I love doing things that remind me of Chicago, like compiling a video of my friend bopping in palaces in Europe. Shoutout to Natalia.
This is technically a men's piece, but the cut isn't particularly masculine; I don't feel like I'm wearing my older brother's jacket. This jacket and my other stuff from DBM and Vita Morte (RIP), are all smalls and the fit is solid. If you have the chance, I'd totally recommend taking a trip up to Fat Tiger Workshop. As mentioned in previous posts, I really like talking to those who had a hand in the production of pieces I'm buying. On any given day, you're bound to find one of the guys behind the brands in the store, which is pretty cool.
Just taking a break from showing all of the peasants around my palace.
Big ups to Natalia for the pics. Her guest post will be going up this week, so watch out for that.
Keep up with my shenanigans on Twitter and Instagram, @all_worn_out.
Today is the day: my cousin Patsy's 40th birthday! As mentioned a few weeks ago, Patsy came over to Europe with me and my mom before the start of my study abroad program. Though Patsy is technically my cousin, she's more like a big sister. She comes on our family vacations, checks in on me and my siblings, and is straight up one of the coolest women I know. Shoutout to Patsy for being the best.
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Patsy had a list of 40 things to by 40 and having a blog post written about her was one of them. So, clearly, I was more than happy to oblige. As a young woman myself, I realize how lucky I am to have someone like Patsy in my life. No matter what, I know she has my best interest in mind. Looking at her and all she has accomplished, just makes me want to work harder. I'm in college now and people really act like this is the end all, be all in terms of life planning. I always tell people that my cousin Patsy is an engineer by trade, but went back to school to get her PhD in Environmental Sciences. and that she is living proof that if you work hard and go after what you want, it all works out in the end. Also, beware that Environmental Sciences is the vague, Stephanie-isn't-smart-enough-to-explain-the- subject way to describe Patsy's work; it's really impressive, trust me on that.
When I first saw that picture of Patsy floating around Facebook, I literally said, "Okaaayy, truee!" Like, turn up. A girl can only hope that she's still out here stuntin' like Patsy when she's older. Let's be real, 40 has never looked that good.
Also, throwback because Patsy's always been beautiful.
Patsy, I'm sending my love and muchos besos from Spain! I hope today, and this year, bring you all you have wished for!
Hey peeps! I’m back again to show you another sweater weather style, featuring two special items I purchased here in Spain.
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Today was chilly and cloudy, so I snuggled into my new deep maroon Pull & Bear turtleneck vest. Pull & Bear is a Spanish retailer based in Galicia that sells very hip clothing and accessories worldwide (though they have not yet arrived in the States) and I love their knits. This vest is soft enough to sleep in with a wide and high turtle neck—the perfect outer layer for a crisp autumn day.
I wanted the vest to remain the statement of the outfit, so I decided to go monochromatic beneath. I paired my Pull & Bear with a simple charcoal cotton sweater and a pair of steel Joe’s jeans. (Joe’s jeans run on the pricey side, but they are very worth it if you are willing to splurge or can find a good sale!) The side-slits in the vest revealed a smooth gray-on-gray transition from top to bottom, letting the vest stand alone as the star of the outfit. Vale!
The Spanish tile drop earrings I’m wearing were bought for me by my dad (who has impeccable taste) at an incredible flea market in La Latina, a bustling neighborhood in Madrid. The flea market is poppin’ every Sunday morning, and it seems to go for miles… the entire main street becomes packed shoulder-to-shoulder with locals and tourists alike, and along either side vendors sell everything from handmade leather goods to wooden children’s toys. The prices are very fair and many of the goods are one-of-a-kind; to any of you heading to Madrid anytime soon, I definitely recommend this gem of a market. 
I am a faithful customer to so many American brands, but I vowed to get out of my box and make purchases here in Europe that I couldn’t make back home, like today’s Pull & Bear vest and one-of-a-kind tile earrings. We are spoiled in America with the amount of quality brands available to shoppers of all price-ranges; here in Spain, there are only a couple quality chains that are not designer stores. The silver lining of this is that I’ve been exploring boutiques and artisan shops… Stay tuned for my next post where I’ll share some of my favorite artisan purchases!
Stay warm.
--Natalie
Editor's note: I don't know how I have been friends with Natalie for this long and not had her do a guest post for AWO. And a little birdy told me that a certain someone might be welcomed to the AWO team soon enough. Until then, enjoy!
Hey chicos! Natalie here, guest-posting on my main awesome blog. This is my first blog post ever….so bear with me as I take you through today’s look.
It’s finally cooled down here in Castilla-La-Mancha; I’ve been counting down the days ‘til sweater weather and today, at last, I brought out my first fall sweater of the season… a bell-sleeved wool blend Free People cardigan, one of my favorite statement pieces in my closet. It’s super soft and cozy, with a stylish twist: a gorgeous blanket print and, hello, bell sleeves. I love collecting pieces like this one that are unique and chic while staying oh-so-soft… For me, good fashion should never compromise comfort.
I wanted the sweater to stay the focal point of today’s look, so I kept what was underneath pretty simple. Beneath I wore a dark olive long-sleeved tee and high-waisted black jeans, complete with wool socks and my favorite Steve Madden cognac leather lace-ups.
Lastly, accessories: the name of my game! Today I chose a western-style leather and ivory belt, and small silver chandelier earrings—both vintage pieces handed down from my beautiful mama! The southwest feel of the belt paired super well with the sweater’s blanket print, giving the entire outfit a Taos feel (side note: one of my favorite towns in the US), and the chandelier earrings were just big enough to notice without distracting from the overall fit.
Today’s look was all about statement pieces set off by a pretty simple base look; this is my favorite way to show off special wardrobe pieces, and an easy way to enter sweater weather with a vavavooom. Until next time, ladies and gents!
Today I finished my midterms and that, my friends, is a great feeling. It's pretty late here in España, but I did want to share a few photos from today. We had some pretty cool 14-16 year olds roll through my school today for a pumpkin carving workshop. Halloween isn't really a thing here, so this was the first time that they had ever carved pumpkins. Only really young kids celebrate and a few adults. While it has become more popular over the years, it has yet to become a staple in Spanish culture. The big day is November 1st, Día de Todos los Santos. I'll be headed to the students' school next week to learn about Día de Todos los Santos, so when I know more about it, I'll let y'all know, too.
When I got to school today, there were literally five other people wearing chambray shirts. I'm always lowkey blown when things like that happen. But, I guess great minds think alike??
To save myself from being an outright repeat offender, I layered my sleeveless H&M chambray shirt under a Banana Republic sweater. I never wear tops that have dropped shoulder seams and exaggerated necklines because I don't think they're particularly flattering on me, but I kind of like this one. In reality, I just accidentally ordered this sweater online and was mad surprised when it came in the mail, but I was leaving for Spain the next day and couldn't really do anything but keep it. Yay for happy mistakes!
Like I mentioned in a post last week, I decided I could be more interesting with accessories. I bought this necklace at Akira for like nine buckeroos or something. It's actually a long necklace that has been wrapped around twice to create a double-collar effect. Not even gonna front, when I wrapped this necklace twice around my neck and saw the final result, I pretty much thought I was a genius. Okay, maybe not a genius, but fairly skilled in the art of getting dressed. I wore this with cream colored J.Crew jeans and Topshop chelsea boots.
Some of these kids were suspiciously skilled with knives and really outdid themselves for first time carvers.
There's also this crazy classroom at my school that has an insane view of the cathedral. Toledo's cathedral is the fourth largest cathedral in the world (!!!). When I looked out the window the first thing I said was, "Aw hell, that's pretty as f**k." Sometime you just have to drop that f-bomb. This was one of those times.
¡Que tengas un buen semana!
If you were a real 90's girl, you probably wore a choker necklace at some point. And that is nothing to be ashamed of. Despite the semi-violent name, the necklaces were pretty common and, dare I say, cool during the late 90s and early 2000s. I have a pretty vivid memory of a picture of me and some other girls at someone's sixth birthday party and most of us were struggling to breathe wearing these necklaces. And just a thought: we should collectively come up with a better name for these necklaces, like neck huggers or neck buddies, basically something that isn't inherently awful.
Yesterday, I popped into a vintage shop here in Toledo. They had a solid selection of skirts, but they were priced at about 35 euros and up and ya girl wasn't about that life. But, I did find something else...
Ooooooooohhh yaaaaaaa. Y'all should have seen me snatch this thing off of the little jewelry holder thing. Tried it on and immediately said, "I'm buying this." I had no idea how much it cost, but it was one of those pieces that I knew I had to have. I ended up purchasing it for a solid 9 euros.
The colors are literally everything. And not to be a super douche, but I knew it would look dope af against my skin.
In an attempt to make sure my necklace was the most interesting thing I was wearing, I wore a navy Madewell maxi skirt, white F21 crop top, and white Birkenstocks. Seriously, these white Birkenstocks are life. I went on a hunt for them over the summer and have been living in them ever since. So comfy. I be on my granola grind sometimes.
This necklace is definitely one of the coolest things I've bought in a while just because it's so unlike anything else I have. And it brings up memories of childhood *sheds one tear*. Nah, but actually, it's such a fun piece. It's the grown-up version of the stretchy, oddly patterned chokers of yesteryear. Ya feel meh?
Yesterday, I popped into a vintage shop here in Toledo. They had a solid selection of skirts, but they were priced at about 35 euros and up and ya girl wasn't about that life. But, I did find something else...
The colors are literally everything. And not to be a super douche, but I knew it would look dope af against my skin.
In an attempt to make sure my necklace was the most interesting thing I was wearing, I wore a navy Madewell maxi skirt, white F21 crop top, and white Birkenstocks. Seriously, these white Birkenstocks are life. I went on a hunt for them over the summer and have been living in them ever since. So comfy. I be on my granola grind sometimes.
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