Sea of Sunflowers

A familiar sight this time of year, it's hard not to be drawn to the sunflowers. A local farm plants these every year. To the best of my knowledge, they do not cut them and sell them, they don't charge for entry, they don't advertise, and there is no where to park other than the side of the road; but those who know it's there show up year after year to take photos.

After snapping away in the field, beads of sweat dripping off my face, bees buzzing may be a bit too close for comfort, it was off to a local vineyard, where the remainder of the afternoon could be spent with a bottle of wine and a cheese plate. While I'm sad to have missed so many social events this summer, at least sitting outside with a companion or two was still possible. While I may never miss the feeling of my makeup sliding off my face in the heat, I suppose it's a fair exchange for the luxury of getting to spend the day out of doors.

         
The Rundown
Gingham Maxi Dress Old Navy similar
Caned Leather Tote Anthropologie
Espadrilles Soludos
Straw Fringed Hat Romwe

Monica Hoop Earrings S.V. Decker

Charm Necklace c/o Grand Avenue Jewelry

Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry

Cat Eye Sunglasses H&M similar

Nail Color "Pre-Show Jitters" Essie

 

After Labor Day

It's already been September for a week, but somehow it didn't feel official until yesterday, Labor Day. When inexplicably the temperatures shift, the gradual shortening of the days become suddenly more pronounced, as if we'd lost the time all at once, and the leaves which insist on turning early come into sharp focus amidst the swaths of green.

 

The usual dilemma of hitting the breaks on summer fashion in favor of embracing all things autumnal arises, even though I know I'm planted firmly in camp summer and wont vacate until forced by something far colder than a morning chill.

 

Even though I know beautiful summer-like days can continue to crop up through mid October, once Labor Day has passed, the mindset changes, and little can be done to reverse it.

      

The Rundown

Poplin Square Neck Dress Banana Republic

Huarache Mules "Camila" Rebecca Minkoff similar

Raffia Ark Bag Mango similar

Loop Earrings Mejuri

Necklace S.V. Decker

Simple Pearl Necklace c/o AUrate 

Charm Necklace c/o Grand Avenue Jewelry 

Gold Croissant Ring Etsy

Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry

Sunglasses Ray-Ban via TJMaxx

 

 

Invested in the Hunt

 How many times have I walked into a secondhand shop thinking to myself "Today will be the day I find *insert mythical fashion item here*, and it will fit." And on as many of those days, I've left empty handed, or with something entirely different, unable to will what I was looking for into existence by thought alone. 

Math is far from my strong suit, so I wont even try to ponder the odds that I could walk into the Goodwill in my town and just happen to find a near pristine vintage "Save the Tiger" belt from Banana Republic just when I decide I need to have it in my life. Though the internet has changed the secondhand market, and people scour the racks of their local stores to find items they can flip for a profit. With that, the odds have shifted, and there are at least three other listings for this belt on Poshmark right now; the hunt is digital, and I am committed to it. 

While this belt had quite the blemish on it, front and center, no doubt from a careless person at a secondhand shop slapping on a large price sticker with little regard to how such an adhesive could mar the leather, when I saw the belt listed for $5 I decided to take a chance. Other current listings are from $25-$35, while sold listings range from $10-$38, thus further swaying my decision toward the flawed belt. When it arrived I found the leather cleaner and conditioner I'd been gifted many years ago and got to work, first removing the sticker residue with a pencil eraser, then carefully cleaning, and once the conditioner had set, the leather was darker, gleaming, and the discoloration from the sticker nearly unnoticeable. 

Of course what initially prompted this hunt was that Banana Republic had reproduced some of their heritage pieces and the belt was included, so you could always buy that, however I tend to think they did a better job with it the first time around. 

       
The Rundown
Dress Banana Republic
Sandals Ann Taylor Factory
Straw Bag with Bamboo Handles Thifted similar
Leopard Silk Scarf Ann Taylor
Leather "Tiger Tooth" Belt Banana Republic

Necklace TJMaxx

Gold Croissant Ring Etsy

Thin Gold Ring Etsy

Sunglasses Ray-Ban via TJMaxx

Nail Color "Pre-Show Jitters" Essie