Down The Rabbit Hole

Scientist turned artist Carsten Holler work shows an appreciation for both the natural world and amusement parks. His giant mushroom creations seem part natural history museum, part social tripping. Right now his work is displayed in Frieze in the form of (you guessed it) giant mushrooms on rounded stems that rock in place. However, I'm most intrigued by a previous installation of his where giant mushrooms were suspended from the ceiling Fondazione Prada. The photographs of visitors wandering below that strange, upside down terrarium are nearly as captivating as the work itself. via

Sunday Remix

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My favorite cream sweater from last fall and winter might be another popular item in my closet this year. This is only half of the times it has appeared on the blog--it's just perfectly cozy and works wonderfully as a layering piece. I'll never be a minimalist wardrobe person because clothes are too fun, but I do believe in wearing what you have and not being afraid to repeat. Just look at how often I wore the same shoes with this sweater too! Anyway, it's not in stores anymore but here are a few similar sweaters: one, two, three.

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Weekend Wedding Planning: The Wedding Cake

I've never had a lot of specific ideas of what I want my wedding cake to look or taste like. I like the look of a croquembouche, although it's not very traditional in the US (or Northern Ireland, I'm guessing!). Although traditional tiered cakes appeal to me as well--I mostly just want everything to be edible and to taste good. It's sort of nice that I don't have a specific idea because one of Thomas's relatives will be making our cake and so on our wedding day it will just be a pleasant surprise as to what we get! I think I'd enjoy turning over a few more wedding details to other people and then showing up on the big day and seeing what people prepared for us!
A fun wedding cake origin story: I read before that one of the first incarnations of the wedding cake was a pile of sweet rolls; guests would bring sweet rolls which were stacked on top of each other. This tradition dates back to Medieval England where cakes were stacked as high as possible and then the bride and groom were to attempt to kiss over the sweets pile--if they successfully kissed over the stack (without knocking it over) they were guaranteed a prosperous life together.
Wedding cake superstitions: There seems to be a lot of superstitious surrounding weddings and the cake is no exception. Apparently hopeful bridesmaids should sleep with a piece of cake underneath their pillow if they want to be the next to marry. And newly married couples might try to keep a piece of the cake until their first anniversary to prevent marriage problems in the future--although no need to keep it under their pillow (thank goodness).

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Style Crush: Irene Kim

This week's style crush is largely about the hair. Irene Kim is a Korean model who's been making waves at NYFW on and off the runway. Her street style is eclectic and interesting--like admire how ladylike she makes a fur puffer jacket look with shiny flats and her ability to pull off more masculine looks in an oversized coat and black fedora. But yes, it is her frequently changing rainbow-tipped hair I really covet. The purple was ethereal and right now her tips are mostly blue and green with a touch of orange and yellow in the back...

Swan Lake

When I initially saw this skirt online I thought it was merely a swan print--I didn't realize the swans were wearing little crowns! The Swan Lake ballet, or rather the fairytales that inspired it, is one of my favorite stories. I know it ends rather tragically in the classic version, but I've read a few adaptations with a happier ending (not thinking of the animated movie!) and they expand upon the enigmatic Odile. I mean, yes she is Von Rothbart's daughter but is she similarly evil, what are her motivations in the whole deceit and her own desires?
P.S. These pictures are a wee bit old, I wouldn't recommend this outfit with our current weather!

Outfit details:
ear cuff

Choies sweater

Sheinside skirt c/o

Choies heels

vintage purse

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Away We Go

One of my less impressive aspirations in life is to go to a swanky, old-style hotel and have a bellboy collect my (obviously gorgeous looking) luggage in a birdcage luggage cart...I mean, it's just so old Hollywood and glamorous-looking. So yeah, even if it was only for one day I'd like to pretend my luggage is that impractical, vintage set and have it whisked up to my suite with a view in a beautiful brass cart...Because of this rather ridiculous fantasy Shop Ruche's recent lookbook holds a lot of appeal to me. Don't we all want to be this girl? For now we'll just have to settle for buying her clothes...
PS Get 30% off sidewide at Shop Ruche with code "BLKFRDY" starting tomorrow through December 1st

Thankful

I was supposed to spend Thanksgiving with my sister in Florida, but the day before my flight I got horribly sick and spent the next couple of days bedridden. I'm pretty bummed I missed out on a warm holiday, time with my sister, and wasted money on a plane ticket I couldn't use, but I'm glad to be feeling better now and I'll still have a Thanksgiving with family. I recently shared a number of these sentiments on Instagram (more specific to Thomas) but it is fitting today to remember despite disappointments and temporary poor health I have so much to be thankful for. In college I didn't have a car and my family was too long distance to make it home for smaller holidays (like Thanksgiving or Easter), so I've spent a few lonely holidays wandering being the odd man out at friends' family gatherings and wandering around an empty campus--so I appreciate the time I will share with family today knowing how empty I felt on holidays without them. Even a brief illness is a reminder that I usually have my health.

Outfit details:

Asian iCandy headband

Sheinside scarf

old jacket

Shop Ruche dress

black tights

Loly in the Sky flats

vintage purse

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My Little Belleville

I can't get enough of the quirky cute creations in My Little Belleville. There's definitely a few unique gift ideas in here (tis the season) from radish-embellished gardening gloves to illustrated matchboxes which will work as perfect stocking stuffers or package toppings. Admittedly I'm admiring Michelle's creations mostly for myself--those mittens would look so cute with a variety of wintry outfits! Perhaps my favorite pieces in the shop though her historically inspired lover's eye jewelry. Hand-painted portraits of lover's eyes were popular in brooches and rings between the 1780s and 1830s. Many of the portraits weren't of husbands or wives, but rather subtle shows of loyalty to clandestine lovers. Michelle refreshes the art and you can snag a handpainted ring of a stranger's eye for a mere $65 or invest in a custom portrait eye ring of someone you love.

King Charles Spaniel

I posted more pictures of Gus (my parents dog) when he was younger, but it's been awhile since he got some blog attention--Tom, his brother who looks very similar, was on the blog more recently. Gus was far more interested in the treats in my pocket than the camera, but was an easy enough model to work with. I couldn't resist bringing him into the pictures since this sweater seems to be based off of a Cavalier King Charles spaniel (although the sweater one is a Tricolour and Gus is a Blenheim). They are quite cute dogs; when Gus barks and chases a squirrel through the yard it's like watching a stuffed animal in motion. I especially like it when he barks at horses on tv; no real reaction to cats or dogs on the screen but horses drive him crazy.

Outfit details:

vintage hat

Sheinside coat

Shop Ruche sweater

F21 jeans

Shop Ruche shoes

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Picnic In The Forest

How idyllic is this picnic in the forest editorial? It's really beautifully styled as I covet everything from her clothes to her humble, but tasty-looking spread--and I rather think the woods look like Ireland. Hopefully there will be some picnics like this in my future, until then I'll just start the fruitless hunt for similar boots and picnic blanket in my budget! via