working girl

Photos © Brian Sorg

Figuratively (well, my upper half is work appropriate) and literally (triple-booked, saturdays, client dinners, etc)...so I'm keeping this post short(s)

blazer by ella moss via Fuschia Boutique, cut-offs by rag & bone

jungle fever

Photos © Brian Sorg

It may be sub-zero outside, but inside it's a whole other story (that story is 80 degrees). While technically not what I'd wear were I to brave the amazon, it's a good mix of hi-low...target vs rag & bone. 

When one has an affinity for certain high end items, it's good to try to balance..and I do try. Other hi-lows currently happening: free pantene from a shoot vs definitely not close to free hair (love you duc)... diptyque candles vs re-used candles w/tea-lights...french press at home vs venti americano a la starbucks...labradoodle vs my future adopted pup...whole foods vs whole foods (technically a hi-hi but I'm powerless against that place)...eggs for dinner vs next for dinner (I will experience next vegan this summer beg, borrow, or steal)...cheap sheets vs luxurious king bed. You get the idea. 

flannel x target, cut-offs x rag & bone

(extra) ordinary

Photos © Brian Sorg

Kicking my jeans & tank up a notch with a pair of stilettos & some neck-cessories. Unfortunately, this shuttered gas station wasn't given the same treatment (unless you count graffiti of course). 

'dre' jeans x rag & bone, neck sweater x humanoid via p.45, various jewelry via fuschia, 'abel' pumps x jimmy choo, shades x karen walker

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express yourself

Not long ago, Roy's Furniture burned to the ground, a block from my place. No one was hurt & they quickly demoed the lot, leaving behind cinderblocks & cement. No word as to whether they plan to re-build, but these blank canvases didn't last long...

Photos © Brian Sorg

What one may call vandalism, another may call street art. One man's trash is another girl's treasure (because I think it's pretty obvious that I didn't earn this tee taking tae kwon do). Maybe you see the world through rose-colored glasses or maybe those glasses are half-empty...just so long as you're seeing the world. It's a pretty cool place. 

vintage tee, pants x j brand, boots x rag and bone

magic tricks

This day had everyone fooled as it started off as a gorgeous 70 degree morning, then drastically darkened, leaving us with an overcast afternoon and wind gusts up to 60 mph. 

The illusion of appearing tall courtesy of 5" wedges.

A tee that is long in front but surprisingly short in back (hopefully more mullet top rather than muffin top). 

Photos © Brian Sorg

By the end of this day, it was 37 degrees with snow showers...but you'd never know that from these photos. A magician always says, don't believe everything you see!

tee x haute hippie, cutoffs x rag & bone, wedges x jimmy choo

con•trast

[käntrast] noun: the state of being strikingly different from something else

Shortening days & lengthening shadows...

clusters of flowers taking root in concrete...

a children's necklace with a jeweled skull...

a fence & a (crumbling) facade...

Photos © Brian Sorg

Let's be honest, I could probably go on for days, but I won't. Except for this...an unkempt alley & a polished person (couldn't resist).

skirt x dvf, tee x vince, boots x rag & bone

strange days

Lyrics from The Doors' classic seemed eerily appropriate to accompany this photoset...taken on an equally eerie night. 

                               

                              

"strange days have found us and through their strange hours we linger alone... as we run from the day to a strange night of stone" - the doors

 Photos © Brian Sorg

Vest x Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent, boots x rag & bone, jeans x j brand

robinette's in the rain

It's apple season and I was insanely excited to check out robinette's apple orchard in Michigan for homemade donuts, hot cider, hay rides & apple picking. Turns out, Pure Michigan should change its slogan to Monsoon Michigan...little known fact: it rains 90% of the time here (technically I don't have scientific proof of this but I'm 90% positive).

Photos © Brian Sorg

Obviously a little torrential downpour wasn't coming between me and my treats, so we braved the elements & loaded up. I'd post the photo of me & my donut, but it just isn't pretty. To quote brian "you literally have sugar all over yourself". And I wouldn't change a thing. Except I'd probably buy more donuts.

jeans x rag & bone, tee x zara, vest x elizabeth and james

a tale of two looks

Back in July, I was photographed with a bunch of other ladies to potentially be in Marie Claire magazine's October street style feature. I was told to wear something that felt fall, and debated between these two outfits, ultimately going with the more colorful version below. 

I wasn't chosen to be in the feature, and as a result felt dumb, ugly & sad, taking me back to those jr high days, even questioning if I should start this blog. Thankfully, my spiraling only lasted an afternoon, and I still say I love both looks. At the end of the day, the opinion that matters most is your own. So own it! 

pants & boots x rag and bone, vest x elizabeth and james

great expectations

Au Cheval has long been buzzing among foodie-types in chicago & more recently nationally after being declared to serve the best new burger by bon appetit magazine. I don't eat meat, but figured behind every great burger is an even better french fry. 

No surprise that we encountered a wait, even on a monday night, so were left to entertain ourselves outside. 

Am I hanging from a tree or am I standing on the ground? That's one secret I'll never tell...

Photos © Brian Sorg

If I had to describe au cheval, I'd throw out 'sexy', 'classy diner', 'meat on meat on meat', or 'just go already'. Oh, and those fries? Divine. And that burger? Let's just say my carnivorous indiscretion was well, well worth it...I couldn't resist a bite & although Brian swore he'd never tell, some secrets are meant to be shared.

blouse x helmut lang, jeans & boots x rag & bone

designs & denim

I think I'm pretty decent at dressing myself, but dressing a room is a different story, one that I completely lack the gene for. I've owned my place almost 2 years now, and have yet to decorate (unless you count my closet). 

This past weekend was the annual design harvest fest, which features local furniture & home good designers. A friend & extraordinarily talented designer had a booth, so I went to check out her goods & see if any of that creativity would rub off on me...

 It didn't. Luckily, it didn't have to, because there are people like Kaisa, of k dille designs to design your space for you.

Photos © Brian Sorg

Using many organic and found materials, Kaisa creates original, gorgeous pieces for your home. She combines her background in landscaping & experience in carpentry to create her one-of-a-kind designs; check her out here!

boots & 'dre' jeans x rag and bone, tee x zara

sun (spots)

Nothing is prettier than natural light & I'm quickly learning when those magical moments are. After a lazy saturday afternoon in sweats, I pulled it together for a tasty dinner at chilam balam (only to revert right back to my sweats for a movie after).

This leopard blouse is a size too big (scored at a Krista K sale), so I compensated with painted-on flares & tied it up, 80's style.

Photos © Brian Sorg

flares x rag & bone, blouse x graham & spencer, tank x splendid's layering line