"Know, first, who you are; and then adorn yourself accordingly."-Epictetus

As October ends and November begins, my excitement for heavier fall clothes is well underway. This fall has been hotter than usual, making me looking longingly at all the fall clothes in stores and catalogs.

J.Crew is one such catalog that displays their vast array of winter clothing in such a way that makes me desire all the cardigans, jewelry, and ballet flats they offer.

This season, J.Crew has gone crazy for Argyle, and I am glad they did. I just love those cute little diamonds arranged in such cute patterns!

Argyle is showing up everywhere this season, on both on males and females. Sweaters and cardigans are the most common piece of clothing, although I have seen some pretty cool argyle shoes and belts. All the various colors and accents are making me excited, as I have seen argyle clothes in the normal neutral colors of grey and brown, to pink and blue with sequins and beads to create an update to the classic argyle look.

Argyle is no longer the look that only your grandfather might have worn, as it has become fashionable among young men and women. Variations of the styles have been made by some of the most popular yet affordable brands like Abercrombie and Fitch, Banana Republic, and the already mentioned J. Crew.

Although you can't really go wrong with wearing argyle, there is the chance that you may end up looking like an old-school golfer if you wear over-the-top argyle pants. The key is not to wear it too loose, and to pair with modern pants or skirts. Wear it with a nice slimmer fitting jeans or cropped pants on women and nice slacks or jeans on men, and you'll have an outfit that can go both ways -- casual and formal.

Nothing is as comfortable to wear than a sweater on cold days. So why not opt for Argyle?

Fall Fashion...Fads?

Lately, I have noticed some fashion trends on campus and in magazines that have got me wondering....is it a trend...or a fad? Here are the top 3 fashion trends that have got me wondering.

1. Metallics. I'm not sure if I like the whole metallic trend, and feel wear wearing anything the color of gold. I'm guessing metallics are just going to be popular this fall, and hopefully won't stick around for next fall.

2. Black and Navy Blue. For the longest time, I always thought that navy blue and black should not be worn together. HOWEVER, I sort of like the look. I think the navy blue top worn with skinny black pants is flattering. I think the main thing not to do is go crazy on accessories. Navy blue and black can start to look too-matchy if you alternate colors more than you need. Less is more.












3. High Waist Jeans. As you can see below, actress Mischa Barton is a fan of the high-waist jean. I am not sure if the style is flattering for every body type, but I would much rather wear a pair of high-waisted jeans than low-riders.

"Smile. Pass it On" Sanuk Motto

Every so often I come across a great pair of shoes that I adore. A pair of heels that never kill my feet after wearing them for five minutes, boots that keep my feet warm and look good with jeans tucked in, or a pair of sandals that are so comfortable I never want to take them off.


This year, I have found the perfect pair of shoes. They are called Sanuks, and they are unlike any shoes I have worn. http://www.sandalsuperstore.com/sanuk/ Sanuk Sandals focus on bringing the perfect combo of comfort and style. Designed specifically for the surf and water lifestyle, Sanuk is thai for "the pursuit of happiness".

Now, I know what you are thinking: "Jamie, Indiana is a state not located near any body of water large enough to surf, " or "Since when did you surf?" or even, "The weather is too cold to surf, why are you promoting surfing shoes?" Well...just look at how cute they are! I love being able to wear mine with a variety of combinations. They are casual and come in a lot of new styles. The only downfall? Since the brand is located on the west coast, it is sorta tricky to find the shoes in the Midwest. That's why I highly recommend their website.

"I love to take things that are everyday and comforting and make them into the most luxurious things in the world." Marc Jacobs

Being a magazine fanatic, I do not have the time to waste flipping through numerous pages of advertisements. I actually get very upset and overreact when the index cards for new subscriptions fall out of the pages of magazines. I just want to get to the point in the magazine where I can view all the new trends, and not have to worry about the new lip gloss from Max Factor.

However, there is one slight exception to my advertising bashing. I am obsessed with Marc Jacob's ads. Not only does he take creative pictures of his models, the clothing always catches my eye and makes me wish I could afford his products. Nevertheless, I collect his ads, tearing each one out and save them inside a folder.

I'm not sure if I will ever use them, but it makes me feel better knowing that I have the ads, just in case...

My Favorites:

Dakota Fanning and Rufus Wainwright

“Eventually, I think Chicago will be the most beautiful great city left in the world.” Frank Llyod Wright

My first memories about Chicago are not very important, only knowing that I have always enjoyed the city is what matters to me. I feel more connected to the city of Chicago than anything else, and I plan on moving there after I graduate.

When I was younger, my mom and dad and I would stay in Chicago and explore downtown, mainly the Magnificent Mile. My mom and I loved going to Water Tower Place, a large mall with stores such as The Sharper Image, Lacoste, and Bebe. The mall is located next to the towering John Hancock building. We would also meander to Bloomingdales which is also located within another mall with stores like J.Crew and United Colors of Benetton. While my mom and I mainly browsed the store, it was so much fun shopping in stores that we did not have at home.

Lately, I have been traveling to Chicago primarily with friends. My friend Kaitlin and I are great shopping buddies and we have started to drift away from the very heart of the city and explore all the surrounding neighborhoods. While we still like checking out everything in Anthropoligie and Urban Outfitters, we make a point to face our fears, jump on the EL ,and see where it takes us.

Before school, we traveled around Lincoln Park. This neighborhood is eclectic, hip, and full of boutiques carrying one-of-a-kind treasures. It is so much fun to find something hand-crafted and basically made just for you. I have a feeling that the more I travel to Chicago, the more I will learn about all of its secret shops waiting for me to discover!

TOP 5 Places to see in Lincoln Park:

1. Build a Bear? take that idea, upgrade it, and you've got 1154 Lill. It is a store where you can create your own purse. You chose the fabric and accessories, and they make it for you on the spot. Or, if you need a purse but can't travel to Lincoln Park, they offer the same service on their website:http://www.1154lill.com/shopourbags/

2. A favorite place to shop and check out the latest fashion in shoe apparel is Lori'Shoes, The Sole of Chicago. Most of the shoes are reasonably priced, and more importantly, very unique. http://www.lorisshoes.com/

3. Betsey Johnson is one crazy lady, but her eccentric style is what she is known for. Her store in Lincoln Park matches her quirky personality as it showcases her clothing, jewelry, and accessories. http://www.betseyjohnson.com/

4.Art Effect is a store in which I could spend hours in, just looking at jewelry alone. The store offers a wide selection of unique and hand-crafted necklaces, bracelets, and rings. Also, the store carries hip and flatting tops, pants, and jackets that are perfect accents for a night out downtown Chicago. Check out the site, it's worth it! http://www.arteffectchicago.com/

5. Finally, the only store that does not have a website that I enjoy going to whenever I am in Lincoln Park is Out of the West. It has very cool denim, Western tops, and a huge selection of cowboy boots. My friend Kaitlin purchased a red trench coat from the store, and I am still jealous of how cute it is! The store is decorated in chic western style, and be sure to pet the store's dog...though I forgot the poor thing's name!

"I woke up one morning and was like, I want white-trash hair today." Mary-Kate Olsen

I have noticed that whenever I have a really busy week, all the great magazines arrive making it even harder for me to just sit down and study. Harper's Bazaar, for instance, came out with who else but Mary-Kate Olsen! Since Full House I have been a die-hard Olsen fan. It's not even a secret. I think Mary-Kate and Ashley have cutting-edge fashion intelligence. Mary-Kate, for some reason, I identify with fashion-wise. In Harper's Bazaar she wears great costume jewelry, vintage hats, and wild prints. Mixing bright colors with leggings and high heels, Mary-Kate is fashionable without even knowing it. While I was disappointed with the overall length of the article, which mainly reinstated facts that Olsen fans already know: She has a role on Weeds as a stoner/Catholic. The only thing that stuck out to me was her desire to get "white-trash" hair, and she admitted that she runs around her home with nothing on but heels and jewelry. Well. Good to know? The layout of the magazine spread was gypsy-meets-fairy-meets-country. I enjoyed it a lot, and got some new inspiration for fall clothing. If you are an Olsen fan, Harper's Bazaar is calling your name....just to let you know.

One week down

Last Tuesday was my big 2-1. I am legal. Originally, I was going to scan my new driver's license and show everyone, but then I thought it might not be the best idea...

Instead, my friends and I went to Benny's. At midnight. No one was there except Benny.

My friends and I had fun, though, playing great songs on the jukebox and drinking like it was a BIG deal, even though it wasn't.

I thought to myself before going to the bar, "What do you wear to a bar?"

I imagined that the uniform was too-tight light denim jeans with a low-cut halter top showing a lot of skin. I don't know why this is what I thought, but it occured to me that I do not own appropriate clothes to wear to a bar.

I don't even feel comfortable wearing clothes that show a lot of skin aka Britney style. So, I posted a picture of what I decided to wear the first time I ever drank in a bar.

My only question is: What do you wear to a bar?

"When you meet a stranger, look at his shoes."Michael Stipe

At lunch today, I asked my friends what really annoys them regarding fashion. I was trying to get inspiration for this blog and the conversation went something like this:

Jamie: Guys, what do you hate seeing people do here regarding fashion mistakes?
Meg: like, people who tuck there jeans into boots...
Jamie: Well, I do that Meg.
Meg: No, like Flared jeans, you wear skinny jeans in boots and it looks ok. Plus, your boots don't have fur on them....
Susan: What about people wearing brown and black?
Jamie: I think I've already done that one.
Jess: I don't like it when people wear floods, or socks with sandals.
Everyone: (in disgust) SOCKS WITH SANDALS!

So, it was settled. This post will be about socks and sandals and how it makes my skin crawl whenever I see this fashion faux pas. Picture, if you will, a beach. Royal blue water spanned out against the horizon, white sand buried beneath an array of beach blankets and umbrellas, the smell of SPF45 sunscreen, and the voices of happy-go-lucky beach-goers. But then, behind your over sized sunglasses you spot something, no....someone out of place. An older gentleman with no shirt, swim trunks, and OH NO...black socks with sandals. Your beach experience has been ruined as you fixate on the man who seemingly does not know he has broken one the most crucial mistakes of fashion.

Why do people wear socks and sandals? To me, when it is too hot to wear socks, I wear flip flops. When it is too cold to go without socks, I don't wear flip flops. Flip flops were not designed for socks. Not even sandals like Birkenstocks. The most common response, or protest that I hear whenever I catch someone wearing socks and sandals is : "I was in a rush!" while flip flops and sandals are convenient, and can be slipped on in less than 2.5 seconds, the time it takes to put on socks is greater. So...don't wear socks if you are running late, and know that you will most likely wear sandals.

There is a website, a British website, www.sandalandsoxer.co.uk/home.htm dedicated specifically to men who wear sandals and socks. It is hilarious and gross and I am still struggling to figure out why it was even created. The point is, a lot of people know that socks and sandals just doesn't look right, but they continue to do it because they don't take the time to care...Or they are old men on the beach whose purpose is to wear socks and sandals to ruin your beach experience. I'm not bitter, really...

Thanks Kaitlin!

Taken from my friend's blog:http://kaityfuja.blogspot.com/

(The directions were to put an ‘x’ in the parentheses that applied.)

A meme…with explanations:

(x) Smoked a cigarette. (yeah…intoxicated)
(x) Drank so much you threw up. (Numerous times. What can I say? I have no tolerance, and I only like hard alcohol, so the combo really isn’t in my favor)
(x) Crashed in a friend's car. (Junior year or senior year of high school my friend susy picked me up from my house to carpool to school. When she pulled out of the subdivision, she actually ran right into a wooden trailer. Her car was totaled, but we were ok)
( ) Stolen a car.
(x) Been in love. (Only once, yet I have said I love you too many times, and I regret that now. I am much more guarded, and rarely show affection, so my love life currently is non-existent.)
(x) Been dumped. (Over the phone. Yelled at. On the answering machine. At the lunch table. I could go on, but I am getting rather red in the face. Those jerks!)
( ) Been laid off/fired.
(X) Quit your job. (Hollister)(enough said)
( ) Been in a fist fight.
( ) Sneaked out of your parent's house.
(X) Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back. ( Currently, and I will not elaborate)
( ) Gone on a blind date.
(X) Lied to a friend. (Yes, but luckily nothing major…and never about clothes. I am always honest when it come to fashion advice)
( ) Skipped an entire semester.
(x) Seen someone die.(…)
(x) Been to Canada. ( I went to Niagra Falls when I was a child and I remember being terrified that I would see someone fall of in a barrel. I also bought a Niagra Falls plastic back-scratcher. I don’t know why.)
( ) Been to Mexico.
(X) Been on a plane. (I have, and it isn’t as thrilling as I think it will be…I get so amped every time before I fly, and then only arrive with my ears hurting and nasty airplane food in my stomach.)
(X) Been lost. ( I got lost in Germany. I stayed with a host family for a summer through my high school, and the girl I was staying with told me to get on a certain bus to get to school. I got on the bus, but did not get off at the right stop. So, ironically, the place I got found was at a KFC, in Germany. A lot of the people there can’t get enough of the colonel’s finger lickin good chicken. Watch out bratwurst)
(X) Been on the opposite side of the country. (Being in the Midwest, I took that as one of the coasts, so I have been all along the east coast.)
(X) Gone to Washington , DC. ( I went to Washington D.C. when plaid was popular. I remember wearing plaid, strirrup pants, and a patriotic sweatshirt when I went on a tour through the white house.)
(X) Swam in the ocean. (A long time ago in the Atlantic on vacation. I had a bikini and thought I was the shit. I was probably 5 and didn’t understand the concept of salt-water)
(x) Felt like dying. ( In middle school, my mom convinced me that FUBU was a new brand like Tommy Hilfiger. I wore FUBU overalls and, well, see below)
(X) Cried yourself to sleep.(The night I wore FUBU overalls)
(X) Played cops and robbers. ( I was always the robber, and I would come up with “robber” costumes )
(X) Recently colored with crayons. (Just because I had nothing better to do, and it was one of those educational coloring books about fashion from the 1960s)
(X) Sang karaoke. (Yes. I had the idea in my head that when I did it, I would be like Cameron Diaz in “My Best Friend’s Wedding” because even though she sucked at it, she still looked polished…It didn’t work out that way, I just ended up looking like an idiot singing ‘Mama Mia’.
( ) Paid for a meal with only coins.
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't. (All the time. Most recently, I got my nose pierced. It only lasted 48 hours, but I told myself I would never do it, and I did.)
(X) Made prank phone calls. (The only one I really remember was calling someone with the last name Herman and asking for PeeWee)
( ) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose And laughedmore after that.
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue. (Every chance I get)
(X) Made a snow angel. (I did when I was younger and the cold did not bother me as much as it does now. Probably because my mom bundled me up more than that kid in “A Christmas Story”)
(X) Danced in the rain.(Only during the summer. It is great. There is something about getting rained and not caring about my clothes getting wet is so much FUN)
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus. ( I did when I was younger, but it was never a list, it was more like, hey Santa, what’s up, I guess you’ll be stopping by soon..)
( ) Been kissed under the mistletoe.
( ) Watched the sunrise with someone you care about.
(X) Blown Bubbles. (I find it relaxing)(I don’t do it every day…)
(X) Made a bonfire on the beach/campground.(I love bonfires! They are fun, cheap, and usually bonfires include good friends and good food. The only thing I don’t like is taking a shower the next day and smelling the smoke that was in my hair. What to wear to a bonfire? Jeans and a T-shirt, or sweatshirt. Heels are out of the question along with make-up and polyester ANYTHING.)
( ) Crashed a party.
(X) Gone roller skating. ( This, too, is similar to my thoughts about ice skating. Roller skating is out-dated and not fun. For some reason, I remember girls roller-skating in too-tight clothing and guys wearing baggy jeans and t-shirts. In my opinion, roller-skating is not fashionable, and one should not try to find a date at the roller rink assuming you are older than 6.)
(X) Gone ice skating ( I have gone ice skating, though I am awful. I live on a lake, and have ice-skated on that, though it is uneventful. I don’t understand the point of skating in circles. I do, however, like the whiteness of ice skates, and getting all bundled up in matching gloves, scarf, and hat.