vital.

Whenever Em & I see or hear of something we need to own to do we simply label it "vital" and this new find is definitely in the vital category.
Now of course everyone who looks at blogs or loves fashion has seen the Celine clutch that is to die for.
(seen below)

Photo credit: Harpers Bazaar

And then you have most likely seen American Apparels version (seen below)

Photo credit: American Apparel

I still don't know why I don't own one...or make one (well actually I do know that answer i hate sewing zippers) but then I stumbled upon CutlyInTheCity's Etsy shop and was blown away.  I loved the colored zippers, the vibrant faux leather, and of course the price! Being a Chicago girl I  may just need to place an order.  Be sure to check out her Etsy page  http://www.etsy.com/shop/CurlyInTheCity?ref=top_trail

                         

                                                                 Photo Credit: Etsy

Keep Calm&Carry On

rainy rainy sunday.

I'm sitting at work staring out the window at a torrential downpour.
When I say torrential I mean i'm concerned my car may float away...
Besides the bad hair, running makeup, and soppy jeans there is beauty in rainstorms that I love.

The music on my Ipod shifts to a different tone, curling on the couch watching a movie seems like the perect cure, and you can acutally blame the weather for your lazy day.
Here are my favorite rainy day songs, movies, and crafts :)

Movies:
180 degrees south- An AMAZING documentary with an even better soundtrack
Dirty Dancing- I can literally never get enough of it, I usually have it on repeat...is that sad?
Grease-Such a classic, and hey if the storm puts you to sleep it's not like you dont know how it ends.
Gnomeo & Juliet- I know I was skeptical too but trust me its a good laugh
Never Say Never- Sorry I just think he is so precious

Crafts:
my big rainy day project involves a ton of magazines, modge podge & an old dresser. Hopefully this collage idea works!

Songs:
I do - Colbie Caillat
 Lazy Song- Bruno Mars
Could you be loved - Bob Marley
Spring wind- Jack Johnson
Stay- Sugarland
Wondering where you are- Tyrone Wells
Thinking of me- Olly murs
sleeping to dream- Jason Mraz

When all else fails and you get cabin fever, grab a friend, some rainboots, and your Ipod in a ziploc bag and dance in the rain :)


keep calm&carry on-Anna

Summer Lovin'

I've been officially back in the US for 14 days now...and it already feels like a lifetime. While I may be a pretty big negative nancy when it comes to readjusting to the American lifestyle,  I do have to admit, spending summer in the Midwest, or America in general definitely has its perks. Here are some of my favorite things about Summer, and more importantly, Summer fashion.

  The essentials: A straw fedora, summer boots to pair with dresses, a good book a clutch for nighttime, fun jewelry. thanks to www.becauseimaddicted.net
  Denim cutoffs-look good with anything and everything you already own from sweaters to dressy tops.
  Baseball: One thing I completely forgot about while I was in Europe is the quintessential American sport of baseball. I love going to White Sox games with family and friends and indulging in the occasional hot dog or polish sausage with mustard and onions.
  Boating: Living on the Chain of Lakes in Northern Illinois has made me have an innate love for anything with water. I love pools, jetskiing and boating on hot summer days more than anything. There is no better feeling than having the sound of water in your ears and the breeze on your face.
  Sundresses!- My favorite part about getting dressed for summer hands down is just being able to throw on a breezy sundress and look good and be comfortable. There are SO many options for everyone and every style out there whether youre on a budget or not. Urban Outfitters, Forever21, and Nordstrom had some great options last time I went shopping.
  Summer Music- There are some bands/artists that I associate strictly with Summer. If youre in need of a playlist, here is my current favorite for this time of year.
   1. Florence and the Machine-Cosmic Love
   2. Fleet Foxes-Battery Kinzie
   3. Jack Johnson-Sitting, Waiting, Wishing
   4. Minus the Bear-Pachuca Sunrise
   5. Citizen Cope-Bullet and a Target
   6. The Dirty Heads-Lay me Down
   7. The Black Keys-Dearest
   8. Butterfly-Jason Mraz
   9. Wiz Khalifa-Damn it Feels Good to be a Taylor
10. Regina Spektor and Ben Folds- You Don't Know Me
11. Ben Kweller- Wasted and Ready
12. Bob Dylan-Like a Rolling Stone
13. Dave Matthews Band- Too Much
14. OAR-Heard the World
15. Jack's Mannequin- Holiday from Real
16. Jack's Mannequin-The Mixtape.

Enjoy!
xoxo , Emily

Guest Comments.

I have previously mentioned the leather bound guest comment book left on our apartment bookshelf that I discovered the first day in my apartment. But as I sit here on my last Wednesday night, packing, listening to music, and attempting to write a last minute Event Planning paper, I decided it was the right time to add my comment.  Sitting in my bed, I don't even know where to start. Sure I could paraphrase some blog posts, of course I wrote down my favorite restaurants and places to go...but the best advice both Jenna and I could think of was to go walk. Go walk around the cobblestone streets we now know so well, and don't be afraid to get lost. This would be good advice of anyone moving to a new place, or studying abroad in a new country. The simple joys of seeing an old italian couple holding hands, or discovering a restaurant with the most amazing fresh bread are what I will sincerely miss about Florence. Florence has definitely become our second home and it took me this long to realize how much I will miss it. It took me yesterday, a meltdown later, sitting in Piazza Santa Croce crying and journaling, listening to some weird combination of The Spill Canvas, Edward Sharpe and The Black Keys to come to grips with leaving. It took me one iced coffee and a funny conversation with my favorite bartender to realize that I probably wont  return to this city and be the same person I am now.

And although that absolutely breaks my heart, I cant help but get excited for what life has in store for me next.
xoxo, Emily

Carrie Bradshaw moments.

My overall abroad experience could be summed up as one simple Carrie Bradshaw moment.  It is in this current moment, at 3:11 in the afternoon on a Monday between classes that feels just like a scene out of the show. It's the fact that as I am sitting at my favorite cafe, a gypsy is jingling a cup in my face for money while threatening to take my cell phone, I am basically secondhand smoking a cigarette from the couple next to me, and I am enjoying every drop of my perfectly brewed cappuccino that I am going to miss extremely in two weeks. I am striving to get papers and projects done, and study for finals next week...but to be honest I've never felt more confused. It's hard to believe that four months ago I had no idea what this trip had in store for me and how much I would fall in love with it. I am absolutely in love with the people passing by, with the smells, the sights, the people, the food, the fashion. I love that I can walk down the street and hear English, Italian, Spanish, Chinese and German all within the same block. This is alot coming from the girl that does not love a lot of things, or people. I know that in less than two weeks I'll be back in Illinois, back to my other reality, the one that feels far too surreal for me to remember right now.
As I sit here now on my computer watching life pass me by in Florence I feel this knot twisting in my stomach for I have to come to grips with the fact that soon this will not be my home, but just a distant memory. A great memory but a distant one nonetheless. I am kind of feeling depressed because I don't know how to act when I go home...Italy has been on my mind since I started college and now that it's coming to an end, I am basically freaking out. I am restless, can't sit in our apartment, nothing is seeming to fully satisfy me at all. What once seemed so normal is now completely foreign. The only thing left to do is live in this moment. Live every day here like I will never return, and enjoy it. But trust me, it's much easier said than done.

typical roommates during my birthday celebration.

Water For Elephants

After seeing Water For Elephants I was mostly inspired by the fashions and old time charm seen in Reese Witherspoon's outfits.  Although I did not think her acting was up to par I did love her costumes.  The look on the left was based off of her characters "work" clothes when dealing with meeting Rosie for the first time.  The look on the right was based off of her glamorous cocktail attire seen throughout the film.

Love for the lads.

There is nothing better than spotting a well dressed man.  I absolutely love mens fashion and on my daily dish of stalking lookbook.nu I got a little carried away when picking out my favorite menswear looks and thought I would share. 

The perfect bag accessory.

Have a boring purse you are looking to spruce up for spring? Look no further than "TASSELS BY LEAF"  On my last trip to Spitalfields market in London I came across this tassels stand.  I was instantly drawn to the booth considering I have had a strange fascination with tassels ever since I was a baby.  I love they way they look & feel and would always rip them off of my Moms pillows when I was a toddler.  TASSELS BY LEAF offers gorgeous tassels that can be used in a variety of different ways.  I personally would LOVE to tie them to a solid colored purse to bring it to life.  

Check out their website www.tasselsbyleaf.com

Blogger Crushes

intriguemenow.blogspot.com

Fashiontoast.com

Atlantic-Pacific.blogspot.com

bjonesstyle.com

Miss London

London I am going to miss you.

I’m going to miss the beautiful sights

I’m going to miss the hustle and bustle

I’m going to miss the dapper men

I’m going to miss the outrageously stylish girls

I’m going to miss the cuffed trousers and bright socks

I’m going to miss the fact that right at 11 in the afternooyou can find a pub filled with people

I’m going to miss they way you say “hiya”

I’m going to miss the fish & chips in SoHo

I’m going to miss the Hawley Arms

I’m going to miss the way everyone says “cheers”

I’m going to miss the food from Brick Lane

I’m going to miss walking into my favorite pub and already have my pint get poured

I’m going to miss riding the top of a double decker

I’m going to miss being able to walk everywhere

I’m going to miss the expression “getting pissed”

I’m going to miss Kensington Gardens

I’m going to miss my flat

I’m going to miss edgy-Edgware road….kinda

I’m going to miss blasting Adele

I'm going to miss The London College of Fashion

Etc

Etc

Etc

Until we meet again London, I will miss you every moment of everyday

Random inspiration

Loving yourself, having no expections for others to love you.
Keith Richards-his autobiography will be my summer read, his effortlessly cool style is eternally inspiring.
Taylor Momsen-badass.
Longsleeved minidresses, tons of bracelets, and the wrist tattoo. <3 it.

xoxo, Emily

Not in the Sky, Not Underground...

On Saturday I had the priviledge of attending the Accademia Italiana fashion show 2011, which had the theme "Not in the Sky, Not Underground". Before the show my roommate and I headed across the Arno to our friend Anna's apartment where we joined her, her lovely roommates and some others from Iowa State for appetizers, wine and ample amounts of champagne.

We then hopped into a mess of cabs and went to the show which as at Teatro Saschal which is in the southern part of Florence. We got there in time to view the graphic and interior design exhibitions, and then took our seats for the show to begin. The booming music and outstanding designs and execution of the clothing gave me such an adrenaline rush. The show was fantastic and featured designs from both undergrad and graduate students of the Accademia.  

The knitwear scattered throughout the show's collections were flawless and easily could be implemented into any boutique seamlessly. My favorite looks though from the show include this bridal dress inspired by the Far East Orient, and the GORGEOUS black and purple tulle ballgowns that I think are completely wearable and amazing. A perfect night out with fabulous friends and even more fabulous fashion.

get obsessed.

I am madly in love with this photoshoot done by Akila Berjaoui (styled and photography)
I stumbled across the shoot on studdedhearts.blogspot.com

Love letter to a City

Dear Amsterdam,
         I miss you with my whole heart.  You are perfect.  You are the perfect mix of a city with small town values.  Your people, parks, and endless array of activities make me love you wholeheartedly.  One weekend was not enough and you left me wanting more. 
Until we meet again

yours faithfully,
Anna