Day 19

Caroline's Outfit:

Wrap- Marshalls
Shirt- Target
Skirt- Vintage store
Tights- Kmart
Shoes- Charlotte Russe

Alexandra's Outfit:

Dress/scarf: H&M

Cardigan: Nordstrom's BP

Leggings: Wal-Mart

Shoes: Target

Caroline: Out of the box

Eso es algo que no me gusta: salirme de la caja. A mi me gustan las cosas constantes. Cambiar siempre me resulta peligroso y doloroso. En los restaurantes, siempre ordeno lo mismo. Y cuando decido cambiar: la crisis existencial: “¿por qué no cogí lo que me gusta?”, “esto no sabe bien.”… Y la definitiva, lo que nunca falla: “No-vuelvo-a-cambiar.”

Entonces, hoy, para torturarme: cambié alguito. Por eso de no perder la rebeldía juvenil.

[ Los tights violeta, la falda un poco más corta, sin muchos accesorios…]

Y lo odié.

Hasta que Alex me dijo: “Im in love.” Que tenía que salirme de los patrones.

Y tenía razón. La caja entonces me pareció una aburrida metáfora de la monotonía normaliana. Y eso sí que no.

Alexandra: What can you do with a sentimental heart?

Almost 3 years ago, I spent the fall semester of my junior year of undergrad studying abroad in Paris. It was beyond amazing. For one who is obsessed with both French culture and fashion, Paris is Meccah. Legit (for you, Caroline). Everyone is chic, everything is a source of inspiration. You see Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Cartier everywhere you go. It's enough to break your poor undergraduate student heart.

Lucky for my bank account and I, there was an H&M right around the corner from my school where I could shop without going bust. I bought this dress a few days before I came back to the States. Now whenever I wear it it serves as a reminder of my wonderful semester spent in Paris. I can't wait for my imminent return to la Ville-Lumière in just over a month. 

Day 18

 Caroline's Outfit:

Wrap- Marshalls
Shirt- Burlington
Skirt- Goodwill
Shoes-Payless

Alexandra's Outfit:

Shirt: Target

Jeggings: Old Navy

Jacket/Shoes: Forever21

Caroline: “la-semana-de-finales-me-esta-matando” look

Vamos a hablar de mis fases:
He tenido varias de esas que implican un cierto grado de obseción extrema. Ejemplo: he pasado por la fase de los “hoodies” y por la fase de los “turtlenecks”. Esto significa que mientras durara la fase, el hoodie o el turtleneck iban a ser una pieza clave en mi vestimenta [diaria]. Hasta que me cansara y encontrara otro artículo más cool.

Pues, pase por la fase de las camisas a cuadros y cuando digo fase significa que casi TODAS mis camisas eran de cuadros: diferentes colores, cuadros de diferentes formas, manga larga o corta, sin cuello o con cuello... Vivía obsecionada con los benditos cuadros.

Esta de hoy sobrevivió a esa fase. Porque la amo y porque amo ser un pastiche....o una adolescente confundida.

Alexandra: "You're almost naked." - Caroline

It is a topic often discussed in American culture: body image. In such a notoriously exterior-obsessed culture it is easy to get down on oneself for not being the picture of media-created bodily perfection. We all wish something were bigger, something were smaller, tighter, toned, taller, shorter, etc etc ad nauseam. While I am no exception, I have mostly come to terms with my "fiercely real" (Yes, that was a Tyra reference) body. 

Although the awkward 13-year old me wouldn't be caught dead in a sheer top, 22-year old me flashes the middle finger to cultural expectations. My body's too bootylicious for you, America.

I'll step down from my blog soap box right about meow.

Day 17

Caroline's outfit:

Cardigan- Kmart
Shirt- Target
Skirt- Record Store
Leggins- Old Navy
Shoes- Rainbow

Alexandra's outfit:

Skirt: Nordstroms BP

Tank top: Target

Jacket: Anthropologie

Shoes: LOFT

Caroline: Vintage is my [new] religion

Descubrí la tienda más increíble de ropa vintage en Uptown Normal. Está de camino a la universidad. Siempre uso su cristal de espejo. Ayer entré: está llena de [geniales] discos usados, un gran ‘sale’ y un anuncio en un espejo que dice “Yes, im a real cat”… Sí era muy real: gordo y peludo; que huele tu abrigo y que te pide a gritos que le toques la panza. Ese será mi nuevo refugio. Casi como estar en casa… bueno, en la de los años 70.

Alexandra: Alright, I look French

After putting together today's outfit, I looked in the mirror and laughed, "Okay, I do look French" I thought. But not super hipster-leather jacket-cigarette smoking-converse wearing-skinny jeans-tall boots-disheveled hair-red lipstick-Paris-French French, but rather classic, crisp, clean French. Your mother's French. If your mother were French. Which mine is not.

Hmm. Whatever.

I previously thought that neutrals were for boring people. The Natashas from Sex and the City girls if you will, while I was much more of a kooky crazy Carrie. However, I'm beginning to find that there can be a visually appealing quality to combining freshly pressed items in greys/navys/blacks/whites. Maybe beige isn't bullshit after all.

Day 16

Caroline's outfit:
Outfit
Wrap/scarf- Marshalls
Shirt- Ralph Lauren
Skirt- Kmart
Shoes-Payless

Alexandra's outfit:
Dress: H&M
Blazer: Nordstrom's
Tights: Kohls
Boots: Forever21
Bracelet: Gift from Flavia!

Caroline: abril veinte

Atardecer-Anochecer. [en el Viejo San Juan o en Rincon] Masculino-Femenino. [lo que se tiene debajo de lo que se ve] Virginal- más que sexual. [si se apagan las luces] Amor-Odio. [que nadie te comprende] Espíritu-Carne. [¿existe algo asi?] Sabor incoloro. [Fresas sin chocolate] Magenta. [después de un beso] Fuscia. [lo que se piensa antes del beso] Moradito?...El rosa es PERFECTO, señores…


Alexandra: Baby you're a firework

I bought this dress for my 21st birthday last year. It was festive (looks like fireworks!), cheap and comfortable, what else can a girl who's looking to party ask for? Today, pair it with a black velvet blazer to add that professional air to the look and this girl was ready to party again in the face of a large workload. Who am I kidding, I am mentally checked out. Who has two thumbs and is excited for summer vacation? THIS guy!

Day 15

Caroline's outfit:
Wrap- Gift
Shirt/sweater- Old Navy
Skirt- Goodwill
Boots- ?

Alexandra's outfit:
Dress: Thrift store on Haight Street SF
Sweater/boots: Target
Scarf: Gift from parents

Caroline: La bipolaridad es un mal de "estos tiempos".

Hoy estaba todo frío y lluvioso; el cielo gris. Y todo se trata de guardar los vestidos y sacar los abrigos, sacar las botas. Guardar tus flats y la incertidumbre de no saber si tienes que sacar los guantes.

En todo esto de guardar y sacar hay algo de desilusión; de nostalgia por lo que se pierde. Hay un poco de rabia infantil. Ves el cielo así y recuerdas que hace unos días el sol estaba afuera y tu estabas toda emocionada.

Ves el cielo así y recuerdas que en Puerto Rico, la gente está de vacaciones de Semana Santa, escuchando música en la playa, .....y tu aquí. En freaking Normal, bipolar Illinois.


Alexandra: Our grandparents may be on to something

The end of the semester means a heavy workload, mugs of coffee and sleepless nights. Being up late last night working on a research paper for my handsome yet demanding linguistics professor, the last thing I wanted to do today was to go out of my way to look cute. Peering into my closet this morning, I noticed my grandpa sweater staring me in the eye and calling longingly to me, "Wear me, I'm comfortable. I won't assign reading or essays. I love you." I acquiesced to my grandpa sweater's loving request and paired it with my breezy black dress and warm scarf. We were quite a happy little family today, my clothes and I.

Perhaps I should lay off the caffeine and get more sleep, lest I actually believe more inanimate objects are speaking to me.

Day 14

Caroline's outfit:

Cardigan- JC Penney (gift from mom)
Dress- Kress (Puerto Rico)
Shoes- Charlotte Russe
Necklace- Rainbow

Alexandra's outfit:

Jacket: LOFT

Shirt: H&M

Jeggings: Old Navy

Boots: Urban Outfitters

Scarf: Forever21

Caroline: No todo lo que brilla es oro.

“Overdressed” es la palabra para definir cómo me sentía cuando salí de la casa esta mañana, pensando que sólo iba a trabajar en el laboratorio, que no valía la pena ponerme un vestido cute…bla bla bla… El traje me costó cinco dólares en Puerto Rico y lo tengo en casi todos los colores posibles: es cómodo, femenino, y primaveral. Todo lo que una chica puede desear en Normal, pero con el estigma de que como 'casi me lo regalaron' no sirve más que para limpiar la casa.

Yeah, right.

Queda científicamente comprobado: Que las estudiantes graduadas también tenemos derecho a vernos monas. Costó cinco dólares, pero I’m working it!

UPDATE- Terminé mi paper de mañana. Feminismo en la España del siglo XX, see ya later!

Alexandra: In the army now

As I've stated previously, I am a big fan of putting a masculine spin on a traditionally feminine look. Fortunately for me, one masculine style that has been on trend for women the past few seasons is the military look. The military look typically consists of a combination of shades of green, tan, brown, black. Top it off with some boots and a military jacket and you're good to go.

Day 13

Caroline's outfit:
Whole outfit- Marshalls
Shoes- Payless

Alexandra's outfit:
Dress: Thrift store on Haight Street SF
Leggings: Old Navy
Boots: Forever21
Hat: Urban Outfitters

Caroline: Mom, what should I wear?

No tengo la menor idea del por qué, pero mi madre tiene la certeza de que no hay nada más chic que la combinación de una camisa blanca con un jean.

No tengo la menor idea del por qué, pero nunca me gustó.

Me gustaba el blanco, me gustaba el jean, pero juntos no me parecían una buena idea. Lo sentía muy vaquero del lejano oeste.

Real Fact: Las madres, casi siempre, tienen razón.


Alexandra: Keep it simple, stupid sweetie.

Spring time means warmer weather, which in turn means less clothing. When the sun comes out, so does the skin. I admire women who are capable of remaining equally as chic in warm weather as they do in cold weather, because there is less to work with in terms of layers and accessories.

Instead of denying the warm weather, embrace it! Find a cute spring dress and jazz it up with a few choice accessories. My gray fedora is a favorite of mine (it's already made an appearance twice in 2 weeks!), because it adds masculine flair (oxymoron?) to an outfit that otherwise would be quite feminine. Forgo too much eye makeup in favor of some red lipstick and my simple spring outfit still pops.