:: Through the Windowpane ::

Top: J.Crew (almost identical), Skirt: J.Crew, Vest: Stella Rae’s, Clutch: Tory Burch, Heels: Aldo (adore these), Jewelry: Neiman Marcus (fun option), Beyond Baroque, Michael Kors, C.Wonder, J.Crew (very old, from my favorite personal shopper)

B: What should I call this one?

T: Something with Urban Cowgirl. You’ve got the construction and your flannel on so I think you could do a play on words.

B: This isn’t flannel. It’s windowpane.

T: I guess that’s why they call it window pain?

And so, this post was born out of my love for J.Crew and Taylor’s knowledge of Eminem rap lyrics. An unlikely pair, an odd couple if you will, but one that somehow still works perfectly together. Will this be my Valentine’s outfit? I’ve been promised ice skating (I’m a total surprise ruiner – suggested it myself and was met with the “that was the plan” response), so no – sequins won’t do. The Chanel knee pads from the recent Paris show would be much more practical!

With snow and ice still on the ground here, I’m dreaming of the warmer temperatures we are predicted to have this weekend. Two years ago, I got the greatest teacher gift of all on my 23rd birthday – A SNOW DAY! This year, I’ll be equally excited to see the somewhat green remains (maybe brown is a better descriptor) underneath the snow and ice which is coating our red dirt. I’m no longer wishing for snow days, but warm weather so the show will go on (and I won’t be tempted to bring a space heater for my frigid bones). Maybe it’s a quarter-life crisis….or just the stirring of my soul. Who knows?

 

:: Sorority Staples & Twenty-Something Things ::

The other day, a friend visited my sorority house (wait, I don’t still live there?!), and mentioned how funny she found it that everyone was basically wearing the same thing. Probably the same outfit from the other 10 sororities at OU – what some might call the “sorority uniform.” Nike running shorts and a Pi Phi t-shirt? No. Too cold. It was the first chilly day and everyone had their long, wavy hair hanging over a Columbia half-zip, with their Uggs hugging their leggings. In college, comfort is key, so the outfit is an obvious choice. My friends never understood me, and probably stopped claiming me at some point, but I just never fit in with the sorority wear – even though it was clearly my whole life.

To be perfectly honest, it wasn’t because I hated comfort and warmth, but because I knew the Uggs and leggings look or Nike shorts and tennis shoes (Hold up – have any of my non-Miss Oklahoma friends ever seen me in tennis shoes? I rest my case.) merely weren’t flattering on me. Believe me – I loved fashion, but the walk to Gaylord (the closest campus building and fortunately, the Journalism college) was just toooo far when the wind whipped your face. Tough decisions…

Yes, there is definitely a sorority style seen on many women. However, there is an outfit that is totally twenty-something too and I’m wearing it now:  the plaid button down, paired with jeans, tall boots and the ever popular fur vest. Just like sorority women, perhaps we do not all wear this, but you’ll see it on an awful lot of us. It was my Thanksgiving-wear (the boyfriend jeans are so stretchy that I’m going to have to have them altered about three sizes smaller – bummer!), and is easy go-to. What styles or trends do you always see or associate as the twenty-something uniform?!

P.S. These jeans were the perfect pick on Thanksgiving, as I stuffed my face with my dad’s famous creole-butter injected fried turkey. If you’re not eating a fried turkey on Thanksgiving, you might as well not even watch the Macy’s Day Parade (sure it’s Thanksgiving, but it’s Macy’s big day) and put the Christmas tree back in the attic!

Top: J.Crew, Vest: Stella Rae’s, Jeans: Too tired to look at the brand – ha!, Boots: Tory Burch, Bag: C.Wonder, Necklace: Zara, Rings: C.Wonder, David Yurman, Sunglasses: Elizabeth and James

Meet Tallulah – full of kisses and the occasional nose bite.

Truly at home in my family’s front yard – all five acres of it.

:: Favorite Find ::

Once upon a time, my friend Becca and I decided to give the  Tulsa Vintage Show a whirl. My eyes fell open when I saw the piles upon piles of discarded baubles. I picked up a rhinestone bracelet for a mere $10, feeling as though I had swindled someone. After dragging Becca up and down every aisle, grabbing a navy and green plaid blazer, and a few more pieces of jewelry… we found hidden treasure. Vintage furs in every earthy hue the eye could imagine. Loving animals, we merely admired at first, imagining the women of the sixties who must have worn them.

As Becca tried one on, we couldn’t believe how gorgeous they really were, envisioning ourselves at a grown up tea party. I slipped a stole on and caught a glimpse at the inside – where MY MONOGRAM was found! I squealed – audibly, and immediately bought my new (vintage) mink stole. For the price I paid, I am almost certain it must be faux, and being an animal lover as well, I would always choose faux. However, this beautiful stole was literally calling my name, and I would much rather see it go to a smoke-free, loving home, than in a crowded, moth-ball filled closet.

For this look, I decided to pull together all of my favorite things. Leopard, faux leather, fur (typically faux as well) and of course – black. The Skirvin was decorated so beautifully, but the gorgeous lit trees did not want to cooperate with photography. It is lovely at all times of year, but especially during the holiday season. If you have a chance to make it down there, do so!

Top: J.Crew, Pants: Zara (similar) Heels: Aldo (old, similar here), Fur: Vintage, Bag: C.Wonder (sold out, but similar version here), Necklaces: Vintage, J.Crew (similar), Ring: David Yurman

:: meant to be ::

:: Mad for Plaid ::

I will openly admit that I am one of those people who gets mad when stores pull out their Christmas stock before Thanksgiving has even breathed post-Halloween. However, this year – I’m a holly, jolly, nutcracker-loving, hippopotamus wanting, chestnut roaster waiting under the mistletoe in a marshmallow world. It started with this beautiful dishtowel I bought from Anthropologie. Then, the twinkling multi-colored Christmas lights found their way into my basket at Walgreens. Finally, it was the realization that I get to wear my holiday themed clothes but once a year and oh  by gosh by golly, it’s time for mistletoe and holly!

I bought this skirt on sale from J.Crew last year for – wait for it – $19.99! I was just ecstatic. It’s such a fun plaid print, but it doesn’t scream Christmas SO loudly that you can only wear it in December. Of course, it was so cold out that we resorted to the beautiful Skirvin Hotel downtown – and what do you know, but they’ve decked the halls and created a life-sized gingerbread house. This Grinch’s heart grew three sizes upon seeing the festive decor, and now I’m ready to extend Christmas into the new year! What are you wearing for the holidays?!

Top: J.Crew, Skirt: J.Crew (old, fun option here), Vest: Stella Rae’s, Boots: Tory Burch (similar style), Watch: Michael Kors (similar), Rings: C.Wonder, David Yurman, Necklace: Max & Chloe, Bag: Louis Vuitton Recital

Skirvin Hallways

:: Faux Real ::

This blog has been so much fun, and I am beyond flattered when my friends praise me for The Paper Doll looking polished all the time. So, let’s be honest here. I do not always look put together. I do not get up EVERY day, jumping into my closet and pulling together fashionable pieces. Some days, I wear my worn out, long-sleeved, button down flannel pajamas, sitting around solving Criminal Minds episodes. And that’s ok. 

So often, I see social media being used to “frame” our lives, only showcasing the exciting or seemingly perfect bits and pieces of our days. Workday Weekend called it the fashion blogger “bubble effect,” meaning we capture this somewhat staged bit of our life as we want others to see it. Some days my hair can’t even do a sock bun, others my wardrobe is literally falling apart, and even after acutane, my skin imperfections can’t always be covered with make-up. As a blogger who focuses so much on the aesthetic, I do find it very important for my readers to know that even Blair Eadie and Olivia Palermo have off days, as do I – clearly. So, when I found this comfortable, easy, casually somewhat cool look…. it became my new go to. It’s basically my socially acceptable flannel pajamas-level of comfortable outfit. The J.Crew pixie pants are a VERY thick legging (which can, attention sorority sisters – be worn as PANTS!), and if you know me, you will be seeing this outfit at least once a week. And I’m not even ashamed. 

I love faux fur, and obviously always have. My classmates had many a name for this fur-baby beauty, and I so often wish I could revisit the simple, unknowing, but oh so confident girl who hadn’t yet noticed that being different was not cool yet. She was many things, but she was authentically faux real, ya’ll. What do you wear out and about when you’d rather not roll out of bed?

You go girl!

Top: Kohls, Pants: J.Crew Pixie Pants, Vest: Stella Rae’s, Booties: Forever 21, Necklace: Lucky Brand, Bag: Kate Spade, Bracelets: J.Crew, Anthropologie, Gifts,