november in review

It's been a rather quiet month, and yet I'm not quite sure where the time has gone. November went by so fast but I don't remember what happened, but for the most part it's been good.

I can't believe it's already the last month of the year.

october in review

Man, this month just flew by. I've been really busy with school and life, but it's good. It's been a blur, I can hardly remember all the little details that occurred this month, but I do know that they were good things.

Hope you had a wonderful month as well!

blogger of the month: Jamie of Petite Panoply

Today I am super excited to introduce to you October's blogger of the month, Jamie from Petite Panoply! What first drew me to her blog was her infectious smile, and it was her awesome sense of style that kept me coming back for more. I swear she is a woman after my own heart with such a colorful wardrobe. I think I would die if I had access to so many fun colors! She kindly let me interview her for the month of October, so be sure to read on to get a peek into this awesome lady's life!



1. First things first, can you tell everyone just a little bit about yourself?

Sure! I’m Jamie: a mass communications graduate student at the University of Georgia (though I’m sick of defining myself by my eternal student status). My creative outlet is putting together non-boring outfits, playing with makeup, and blogging. I’m a Disney animated movie aficionado, nail polish hoarder, donut-lover, ex-theatre & band geek. I live in Georgia but I’m not a southerner. I enjoy tasty craft beer and going to nostalgic concerts. I have way too many shoes for my own good. Halloween is my favorite holiday. I’m a bit of a nerd (books! science!). My idea of an excellent fall evening is binge watching TV shows with my sister while drinking boozy coffee and reading blogs. In reality, most of my fall evenings are spent reading academic articles, writing papers, and quickly scheduling blog posts.



2. What was the inspiration behind your blog name?

I was really feeling unique vocabulary words around the time I made my blog. I came across “panoply” which means “an array” and liked how odd it sounded. (I’ve always enjoyed funny-sounding words. And making up my own words too.) My blog name kind of has a dual meaning because it’s both talking about a small array of things and referencing my short height. Plus alliteration is king in the blog name world, right?



3. How would you describe the perfect outfit?

This question is so hard for me! I like wearing and mixing a lot of different styles depending on my mood that day. Usually the perfect outfit for me is: 1. full of color, 2: includes a vintage/retro-looking piece, 3. has polka dots or leopard print, and lately 4. Has a slight edgy factor. I’m happy in any colorful retro outfit but lately I’ve been enjoying darker edgier looks too. Mixing those two styles is always great in my book!



4. The tagline for your blog is "short girl style". Have you had any struggles with finding pieces to fit your height?

Oh always. My struggles were really prominent in my middle school and high school days when I wore jeans all the time. I had to search for stores that carried a short inseam because bell bottoms and boot cuts were in style then and the flare would start at such an awkwardly wrong place if they weren’t jeans made for short people. I still end up with 6-10 inches of extra fabric beyond my foot when shopping for pants in regular sizes. Lately I have problems with the bodices of dresses being way too long for my short torso. My red lace graduation dress had to have the bodice shortened (which was not easy). I also have issues with tops being too long. They usually hit at an unflattering place so I tuck most of my shirts in. The crop top trend is my friend! At least I can buy some things in the kids’ section. Basic tights are much cheaper there and even seem more durable.



5. How do you overcome the fashion industry's inclination towards taller girls?

I figure the majority of the fashion industry styles clothes for 2% of women. These are the tall, super skinny model types, which is a valid body type, but not at all the norm. I make do with the body I have just like any other woman who is outside that 2%. I get inspiration from the industry trends and adjust them to fit my style and body. Luckily there are stores that carry petite sizes and shorter inseams. Plus there’s always tailoring which is a short girl’s best friend. There are some styles that probably won’t ever be flattering on me though (like drop waist dresses). They just weren’t designed for a short frame and it sucks, but that’s life. There are plenty of other styles I can try out instead!



6. What's one style you wish you could emulate?

I really love Zooey Deschanel’s style. Her girly, retro style is exactly how I’d love to dress for work each day when I actually get out of grad school. I really like Emma Watson’s style too. I like that she takes chances with her look.



7. If you were to give one piece of advice to your readers, what would it be?

Don’t be afraid to smile in your pictures (if you have a blog, that is)! It’s okay to look happy.



Thank you so much Jamie for letting me get to know you just a little bit. Be sure to check out her blog, Petite Panoply, for even more awesome colors (and a fun Halloween post for today!). I hope you all have a great day, and happy Halloween!

september in review

September has been a very busy month for me. I've been working nonstop in school, and it doesn't seem to be slowing down any time soon. This weekend I'm going to the beach, which I hope will clear my head a bit. September was great, but I can't wait to see what opportunities October has in store!

blogger of the month: Ashlyn of Triple Thread

Our beautiful blogger of the month is none other than Ashlyn of Triple Thread! I only recently discovered Ashlyn's blog, and already her gorgeous photography and eloquent writing have whisked me away, making her one of my favorite bloggers and August's blogger of the month! Read on to discover a little bit more about this fabulous girl.



First things first, can you tell everyone a little bit about yourself?

I’m Ashlyn from Tennessee and I have my toes dipped in many different waters. I run collegiate cross country, write for my college newspaper (and was promoted to assistant editor this school year!), search for new music constantly, and of course blog about fashion on my blog. In my free time I love driving around the back roads of Maryville, TN, where I live, and exploring the Great Smoky Mountains.

And happy birthday! How does it feel to be turning twenty?

It feels great! I’m not one to fear getting older as my soul feels much older than my body. I know a lot happens in the next decade of my life, but I know I have the power to make it a positive experience.



I've loved exploring your blog and looking back on older posts, and it's really fun to see how your style has evolved. What's the most significant change you've seen with your style?

I think I have stopped relying so heavily on emulating a “romantic” or “vintage” style and have gotten more comfortable with the idea of a casual wardrobe. I still consider myself a classicist in a lot of aspects of style, but I’m not afraid to push the boundaries I once made for myself.

Can you tell me a bit about the meaning behind your blog name?

Sure thing! When I decided on the name of my blog, I was mainly interested in three arenas: writing, photography,and fashion. These categories have expanded since then to include everything from scientific illustrations to book cover designs and everything in between. My blog name is supposed to reflect taking what you are interested in aside from fashion and incorporating that into a unique personal style. And it just so happens that three is my favorite number, making “triple” even more appropriate.



Photography is a big part of your blog. Do you have any future plans for your photography?

I used to be dead set on being a big name editorial fashion photographer; however, after finishing up the photography program at my school, I’ve changed my mind. I still shoot weddings as well as assist other photographers, but I know that’s not where my passion lies. I’m glad to be able to incorporate photography into everything that I do. Being multifaceted really does make a difference so I plan on using photography as a support beam to my other aspirations.



What is your favorite outfit featured on Triple Thread?

One that I think of a lot is when I paired what can only be called a “bro tank” from Urban Outfitters over a classic white shirt dress with some clunky black heels and my vintage Dooney & Bourke purse. I loved combining classic elements that I wear a lot with some more modern, edgy pieces.

A completely non-style related question, but what is your favorite book?

I have several books that have a special place in my heart, but for a favorite it’s a tie between East of Eden by John Steinbeck and Until I Find You by John Irving.



One thing I really love is that you're dedicating 85% of your clothing purchases to thrift, made in US, and small/independent businesses. How has making this goal helped/hindered your purchases? Also, how has it helped in the evolution of your personal style?

I’ve slowed down on my shopping incredibly since I’ve made this promise to myself. Luckily, there are great local second hand and consignment stores for when I do have the itch to add something new to my wardrobe. As far as apparel that is made in America, a lot of bigger retailers are taking notice of the new demand for these products. American Apparel is great, but I can actually still shop at places like Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and especially Modcloth to find things made here. Where I run into trouble is with the accessories, but that is really where local stores come through. It’s so hard to find shoes and handbags and even jewelry made in the US. Secondhand is a great option, but there isn’t always the best variety. Fortunately, there are several boutiques that I rely on in the Knoxville area as well as exploring local businesses when I travel. The other 15% of my purchases are usually reserved for trendy items from places like Forever 21 or pieces I truly love from my favorite stores like Madewell.



Do you have any advice for people who wish to convert their wardrobe to these types of companies?

At the end of the day, it isn’t about shopping ethically as much as it is taking the time to appreciate the items that are already in your closet. What my manifesto has taught me more than anything is just to slow down my rate of consumption. I won’t settle for anything less than the perfect version of what I have in mind. Persistence is key and putting an actual percent value with it has helped me the most. It is also beneficial to get very comfortable with the idea of shopping online for new items. Second hand shopping is always a fun, in person way to get your shopping fix, but occasionally that won’t always yield the results you need. Online shopping has been the biggest lifesaver in that regard. Simply searching “Made in the USA” on my favorite shopping websites has given me a surprising number of results!



Thank you Ashlyn so much for letting me interview you!

You can check out Ashlyn's blog and leave her some love here!

july in review

July has been a long, weird month, but for a reason that I can't quite put my finger on. I think about a third of the way through the month was when I was ready to go back to Oregon to see my friends, but I still had 1 2/3 months to go so there was a lot of "friend-home-school-sickness" going on. But now July is over (so weird half of the year is over with now!) and I only have twenty seven days in Alaska before I hop on a plane (next to Matt and his brother this time!) and fly to beautiful Oregon. Let the countdown begin.