How to Wear Fair Isle Sweaters Stylishly

Happy Wednesday girls! I can’t believe how fast the month of November is going. It feels like yesterday it was Halloween. It’ll be my first thanksgiving away from home this year. Since I live in Texas, going home to Maryland where my family is really isn’t an option. David and I will be spending the holiday with his family in San Antonio. The funny thing about going to someone else’s home for thanksgiving is you have no idea how they do things or how they dress for dinner. A classic thing that everyone wears during the holidays are Fair Isle sweaters. I don’t really think of those as fashion forward but if you wear them right, it can be really classy!

Classic Thanksgiving Day Outfit

I found my sweater last year at Forever 21 on clearance and I’ve gotten a lot of wear from it! Even though Thanksgiving in Texas is probably going to be rather warm (read: 80 degrees) I still plan on incorporating some traditional, chilly weather elements into my day. While many of us will be wanting to bring along some “fat pants” for the hours after we eat our Thanksgiving feast, we might want to draw some inspiration from the classic, preppy persona that goes hand-in-hand with a Fair Isle sweater but adding some fun elements.

Let’s start with my floppy felt hat. I bought it last year at Old Navy for $15 and I love how trendy it is but also how affordable it was. I’m not one for spending a lot of money on “trendy” items that will come and go within a year. I prefer to spend big bucks (like I have that) on timeless pieces that will look good year after year. Another trendy piece I featured here are the camel-colored peep-toe mules. I found these at Target and frankly, I think shoes like these could be placed into the “classic” category eventually. They seem to be coming back again and again!

So how do you style classic clothing like Fair Isle sweaters? Leave me a comment to give me some ideas for my holiday outfits this year!

 

 

Whale Watching in Massachusetts

A few posts ago I shared with you a few vacation photos of my trip to New England. I thought today I’d share with you a few from our whale watching trip in Gloucester, MA. Trust me, it’s one of the most unique experiences I’ve had! These creatures are mysterious, shy, but have a playful spirit. Nature truly is a beautiful thing and so was the weather we had that day. It was perfect for going out on a boat and enjoying the waves and sunshine.

We went on the whale watching tour with Seven Seas Whale Watch Group (check out the Groupon for a good deal!) The tour was over 4 hours long and we went out into the Atlantic to see if we could spot a few whales in their natural habitat. We got really lucky and saw over 10 Humpbacks, 8 Minke whales, and 50 dolphins! They surfaced close to our boat and exhaled through their little blow holes.

My sister and I had a difficult time standing while the ship was in motion. We held onto each other for dear life while my mom took this picture.

I was smart that day and wore Sperry Top-Sider duck shoes. They’re lined with fleece and super cute to wear with jeans for a day outside! I found mine at Belk back in March for $29.99. Here’s some similar ones to get you going in the right direction. Unfortunately, they aren’t as cheap as the ones I bought, but as per usual, you have to wait for them to go on clearance in order to get a good deal.

The rest of my outfit I tailored to the weather I might encounter. The thing about September is that one day its 85 degrees and the next it’s 65 degrees. You never know what to expect. I chose my favorite Lucky Brand jeans in Charlie Skinny (best jeans I’ve ever bought). A Vineyard Vines half-zip pullover and a Ralph Lauren baseball hat. Preppy and practical- just how I like things.

Anyone who might be interested in going on a trip like this I recommend wearing layers! At some points in the trip it was really chilly and at others I felt like I was burning up. Luckily, layering is a fashion statement so you can still look great while sailing on the high seas.

Seaside Style

Hello lovelies! Yesterday, I was in Massachusetts doing some sight seeing and today I’m writing to you from Lancaster, PA. I love the northeast this time of year because the leaves are starting to change, the temperatures are dropping, and my preppy style fits right in! It’s wonderful to be in a place that recognizes Bean boots, Vineyard Vines, and even appreciates them.

J Crew in New England

I spent Saturday with my family wandering around Salem, MA. This quaint, sea-side town has so much great history that we didn’t even get to see it all. We wandered down Essex Street and pretended not to notice the creepy shops that lined the sidewalks. Pretty much every little store sold potions and things with pentagrams on them. This Christian, suburban girl was out of her element. There were a few places with cute trinkets and baubles to take home as souvenirs though.

My sister and I wandered out onto a jetty to take some pictures. The weather was absolutely wonderful! The sun was abundant, great breeze, and a slight chill in the air!

My sweater is the Charley from J Crew. They don’t make this one anymore but I found a few on eBay  that are pricey but if you’re really in love with it, go for it! I’m wearing a size XS and it’s a little snug but I made it work.

My earrings are from Aldo and I got them on a 2 for 1 deal! I love their jewelry but it can be a little expensive given the quality. Wait for a good deal like the one I got!

My eyeshadow is Mac “Amber Lights” for $16. Normally, I hate spending this much on makeup but Mac products are usually worth it! I love this color and use it as my base quite often. The crease color is actually from a Victoria’s Secret eyeshadow palette. It’s a medium gray shade that blends nicely with the Amber Lights.

Lastly, my shorts were a steal from an Abercrombie & Fitch outlet in San Antonio. I got them for $9! I absolutely love the lace on them. They’re light weight, feminine, and go with nearly everything.

We had a wonderful time exploring Salem on Saturday. Even better, we took a historical and ghost tour that evening for fun. We learned a lot about the history of Salem and got a little spooked at the same time. I’ll be posting a few pictures from the trip along with some from our whale watching trip (yes, we saw many whales!) later this week. Be sure to check them out! If you’ve been to Massachusetts, let me know what your favorite thing is to do there!

Road Trip Survival Bag

Happy hump day lovelies! I’m glad it’s half-way through the week because, well, I like weekends. It’s just that simple. I’m willing to bet that most of you do too. Luckily for me, my weekend starts a little earlier. I’m leaving tomorrow for Massachusetts with my family. You have no idea how much I’m looking forward to seeing the turning leaves up there!

The last time I was in Massachusetts for a vacation was when I was about 5. My parents took me whale watching and to a little historical town called Sturbridge Village. I don’t remember much of the trip so it’s like seeing it all over again for the first time.

Since the family and I will be road tripping from Maryland, we have about 8 hours of nothing to look at so I’ve come up with a few things to put in my road trip survival bag. Throughout my short little life, the family and I have been on many road trips and we’ve exhausted the games “Guess the person” and “Eye spy with my little eye”. I’m just so done. Here’s what’s going in my survival bag.

• Latest issue of Vogue
• Bubble gum (so I don’t eat a million potato chips)
• Travel mug
• Eos lip balm
• Sunglasses (they double as a way to trick people into thinking you’re asleep)
• Ear buds and a travel charger
• Neck pillow
• iPhone loaded with new music
• Trail mix (with lots of M&Ms in it!)
• Portable cooler for carrying chopped up fruit and water bottles

Tell me if I’m forgetting something. Leave me a comment!

The Air of Somewhere New: A Photo Diary

Today we have Mikayla, from the blog The Taste Tracker, guest posting and sharing her photos from a trip she took to Rockport, Massachusetts! Read on to hear about her adventure and don’t forget to check out her blog!

-Liz

Last weekend, my fam and I packed up our things and quickly scurried up North to the perfectly quaint, beautiful, and scenic Rockport, Massachusetts. Don’t think you know where Rockport is? Don’t worry, you do. Remember the town that Ryan Reynolds brings Sandra Bullock to in The Proposal (cause I know you all have seen it)? Guess what: that’s not “Alaska.” That’s Rockport, Mass.

The 3 days that we spent there were perfect. Wandering around a seaside village in great weather and with great people simply cannot be beat. Rockport was never still. From the people ducking in and out of the little boutiques and bakeries that lined Bearskin Neck, to the faint ocean breeze that was always drifting in the air, a warmed-up version of your laid-back beach look was necessary.

To me, linen pants on the beach are so fashion-forward. On this trip, my sister and I had the best of both worlds–she had a crisp, beige pair of linen pants, while I sported a pair of Aztec-patterened linen pants. As I said before, it was a little breezy, so my oh-so-versatile chambray button-up was a complete life/outfit saver. And of course, my clean-cut, leather pair of Birkenstock-esque sandals topped this nautical look off. Whops, can’t forget my circle lenses that I am completely, totally, and utterly OBSESSED with at the moment.

Enough fashion jibber-jabber. I hope you all enjoy this little peek into my weekend spent in this quaint, little sea-faring village. I want to share this with you all because appreciate is better when shared.

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After checking out this post, I hope it inspired you all to get out of your house/apartment, take a trip up the road and EXPLORE. Taste the taste and smell the smell of somewhere new.

-Mikayla

http://thetastetracker.wordpress.com