style evolution

I'm writing this while riding the subway back to Brooklyn because I'm now a true New Yorker who can navigate the city by myself. I can't really navigate the city, but I can get from FIT in Manhattan to my apartment in Williamsburg easily on my own, and I think that’s an accomplishment.  Today I noticed how much my style has been evolving recently. For a while I was focused on the preppy, classic style; then I transitioned into darker colors with edgy details; and now I think it's leaning towards something that's a combination of minimalistic and bohemian. I've been drawn to a lot of more free flowing pieces in lighter colors, and now Chloe is one of my favorite designers. For a while I was almost obsessed with wearing as much black as possible and accumulating an edgy sense of style. I still like a lot of those pieces and continue to take inspiration from them, but now I'm loving loose dresses and floral and wearing all white. It almost shocked me when I put together my magazine cover and mood board for class and saw how light it was. I'm not sure when this change occurred or why it happened, but I have a feeling my whole life will be a series of style changes. I don't think your clothes can entirely convey who you are, but I do think they can embody a taste of what you feel/ how you want to be perceived/ who you are. I do think my mind and heart have changed with my clothing preferences, and that can’t be purely coincidence. I'm so much happier, so much more free inside now. I'm less about wanting to seem tough and less about putting myself and others down. My goal is to radiate positivity and passion, and since I love fashion, I want to reflect that through what I wear. Of course, not everybody who wears all black (I still do sometimes) wants to shut people out, and not everybody in a white dress is an example of kindness (I will never be quite there), but some people do reflect how they feel through their outfits. I think I am one of those people. When I dressed preppy I wasn't fully comfortable with who I was so I sought to fit in, but now I want to display who I am and what I feel. Who I am is constantly changing in so many aspects, and that's something I adore about being alive.

claire
outfitsandobservations@gmail.com

welcome to new york

masons dress (similar), doc martens, forever 21 scrunchie

On Wednesday night my flight arrived in New York City and the journey began! I'm so ready to have 24 days to fully explore my favorite city and get a taste of what it's like to live here. I look forward to trying out so many restaurants, shopping all over, and spending time at museums.

masons top (similar), brandy melville shorts, vince camuto sunglasses (similar)

But most of all, I can't wait for my classes at FIT to start tomorrow! It will be so incredible to be surrounded by people who love fashion and are passionate about learning more.

So far we have been mostly wandering around and exploring the area. We're staying in Williamsburg, which is an incredibly cool neighborhood. We've also spent some time in Manhattan and the rest of Brooklyn.

brandy melville dress (similar), converse, tabbisocks

target dress, tj maxx kimono, doc martens

I'd love to hear some of your favorite things to do in NYC!
claire
outfitsandobservations@gmail.com
instagram- @outfitsandobservations

july playlist

Last month, I did my first monthly playlist (june playlist). This month I'm continuing the young tradition. This playlist is something for long, lazy drives or reading in the summer heat. It's songs that I love the lyrics of and are perfect for singing along to even if they wouldn't be played at a party.

july playlist:

heart it races// dr. dog
first// cold war kids
make you better// the decemberists
dirty paws// of monsters and men
lost in my mind// the head and the heart
if i ever feel better// phoenix
cough syrup// young the giant
tongue tied// grouplove
i'm good// the mowgli's
empty nesters// toro y moi
elephant// tame impala
coffee// sylvan esso

an outfit for a day that wasn't quite sweltering

journaling while watching the sunset

a bouquet from the farmers' market

the "elton john" at burton's comfort creamery

wearing my new favorite shirt at my favorite spot for coffee and crepes

seeing my writing in this month's issue of local wolves was surreal

from a hike at Hawksbill Crag

thanks to Nightbird Books I now own this phenomenal TED talk in print

rainy day lattes at Onyx

what music are you listening to right now?
Claire
outfitsandobservations@gmail.com

worth reading

I mentioned a few of my favorite books in my favorites post, and I thought I would elaborate on some that I recommend. Reading is one of my favorite things to do. It inspires my writing and gives insight into characters like nothing else can. It can be so easy to pretend to be too busy for books, but sitting down with a good one can be so rewarding. I love authors who write beautiful sentences about a storyline that revolves around raw characters. The authors and books I'll include certainly do that!

The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls is a memoir of this woman's incredible life. Her parents were unconventional to say the least, and her childhood consisted of many locations. The parents preached living freely but were providing conditions that were in no way safe for four children. I highly recommend her tale.

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov is a classic that I actually only finished on Monday. It tells of a grown man's consuming love for a young girl who ends up as his step daughter. Not only is it one of the most beautifully written pieces of literature I have read, but it is also the most conflicting for the reader.

Looking for Alaska by John Green is a wonderful story that I have read multiple times, once in a single sitting. I wasn't much of a TFIOS fan, so this is by far my favorite John Green novel. The characters are incredible and complex and so real. It has a plot that possesses you and forces you to keep reading, but it also makes you cry a little.

One More Thing by BJ Novak is a collection of mostly funny short stories. Some are a bit more serious or philosophical, but most are intended to make you laugh. It's written by one of my favorite people in the world, and my copy has a personal note from him in it, so there's that. It's an easy read, and since it's short stories, you can read any at any time.

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace is an enormous project to take on, but it was the best book I have ever read and may ever read. DFW is so incredibly wise, and he slips so much truth into this enormous novel. It's hilarious, but it also delves into deeper issues like addiction and the constant desire for entertainment. Since it isn't in chronological order, it's a puzzle and a work of art. I recommend it so strongly, but you need to commit to it!

Let me know what your favorite books are or if you love any of the ones I mentioned!

Claire
outfitsandobservations@gmail.com
instagram- @outfitsandobservations

embroidered

American Eagle dress (similar), Old Navy Sandals (in white), Vintage Dooney & Bourke bag, Nordstrom watch

I would say don't let me get started on this dress, but this is my blog, and nobody can stop me! I am obsessed with it; I just think it is a beautiful creation, and I can't stop wearing it. Every time I do wear it, I get so many compliments because it's so unique. The embroidery is gorgeous, the colors are so pretty, and it's perfectly flowy. My favorite part, though is the back, because the embroidery continues, and it has the perfect cutout. I picked up this beauty before spring break, so unfortunately it isn't for sale anymore. This is a similar option, though!

Whenever I wear this dress, I keep the rest of the look pretty simple. It just steals the show, and I'm content with letting it. I just added thin-strapped silver flip-flops and a gold watch with my favorite purse. This half-up bun is my favorite way to do my hair right now because it keeps just the right amount out of my face.

Thank you to Sophie for taking the photos!

claire
outfitsandobservations@gmail.com

favorites

This post is going to feature my favorites in a variety of categories. These are all things that I love and think are worth sharing. I tried to make it five items per category, and they're not in any order since I'm a huge fan of all of them. Check out these things!

MUSIC

Bands/ Artists:

- Coldplay
- Arctic Monkeys
- HAIM
- The Black Keys
- Lana Del Rey

Albums:

- AM // Arctic Monkeys

- Pure Heroine // Lorde

- xx // the xx

- The Head and the Heart // The Head and the Heart

- My Head is an Animal // Of Monsters and Men

Songs:

- "Gold Digger" by Kanye West

- "Suck it and See" by the Arctic Monkeys

- "Stars" by the xx

- "R U Mine?" by the Arctic Monkeys

- "Violet Hill" by Coldplay

Media

Instagram Accounts:

@lolaboutique

@annemichelleh

@samikatherinee

@maryasdlkjh

@kinley.moore

@alliisonder

@gloriousgoldens

Twitter Accounts:

@KeoNovak

@madisenkuhn

@localwolves

@succulent

@arzE

Blogs:

- Rookie

- Cupcakes and Cashmere

- fashiontoast

- Atlantic Pacific

- A Walk in the Park

Celebrities/ Influential People:

- Tavi Gevinson

- Mindy Kaling

- BJ Novak

- Harry Styles

- Amy Poehler

Fashion

Stores:

- Free People

- American Eagle

- Brandy Melville

- Savoir-Faire

- Target

Magazines:

- Vogue

- Nylon

- Teen Vogue

- Local Wolves

- Lucky

Beauty:

- Clinique CC Cream

- Maybelline Brow Drama Brow Mascara

- Urban Decay Glide-On Eye Pencil in Underground

- Blistex Ultra-Rich Hydration Lip Balm

- Benefit Fake Up

Entertainment

Books:

- Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace

- Looking for Alaska by John Green

- Bossypants by Tina Fey

- The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Films:

- The Virgin Suicides

- Catching Fire

- The Great Gatsby

- Silver Linings Playbook

- Titanic

Shows:

- The Office (US)

- The Mindy Project

- Gossip Girl

- 30 Rock

- Parks and Rec

what are your favorites? do we like the same things?

claire
outfitsandobservations@gmail.com

summer whites

Simply Vera top (similar), Old Navy Shorts, Birkenstocks

In the colder months my outfits tend to feature a lot of black and dark denim. It's just easier to stick to one color palette, and I'm not a huge fan of brighter colors. The weather has been heating up quickly, though! Due to this, I've been reaching for lighter, airier pieces, and I'm really liking it.

I paired this white flowy top with extremely light wash denim shorts for a more monochromatic look. To add a bit of differentiation, I also wore a simple gold necklace and my new black Birks. I just purchased them because I wanted a pair of sandals that will hold up with all the walking I'll be doing in NYC in July. I already know they're going to be a staple in my closet, especially because they're black.

Thank you Sophie for the photos!

ALSO I wanted to share that I submitted a piece to Local Wolves magazine, and they included it in their June issue, which was released today. If you haven't before, check it out because it's a wonderful publication. The photography and writing are of the highest quality. You can read the June issue (and all of the other issues) for FREE online! Here is the June issue, and my piece is on Page 23!

claire
outfitsandobservations@gmail.com

june playlist

I feel like I have made it obvious that I love fashion and expressing myself through writing by now. However, music is also one of my main interests, and I want to show that on this blog. From now on, I will be sharing a monthly playlist! In this monthly playlist post I also want to share photos I have taken since most of the other photos on this blog are ones others take of me.

june playlist: (spotify link)

walcott// vampire weekend
sun// two door cinema club
running if you call my name// haim
pseudologia fantastica// foster the people
flawless// beyonce
fluorescent adolescent// arctic monkeys
gold digger// kanye west
you know you like it// alunageorge
i wanna get better// bleachers
fall into place// apartment
when you were young// the killers
mountain sound// of monsters and men

on my desk: one of my favorite quotes, faux flowers, and a letter

taken during a run at my favorite park

lush bubble bars work wonders

celebrating summer with a picnic (on the back porch due to rain)

the trails are so serene when you're alone

cotton candy skies at a track meet

Claire
outfitsandobservations@gmail.com
contact me for collaborations!