bolo because, yolo

Yup.  That's a bolo tie.  Granted, I'm easing my way into this, tucking the leather strings (ties?) inside my sweatshirt.  But still, wearing this thing made me feel like a brave cowgirl.  In fact, every time I looked in the mirror I got this song in my head.  Wild west, the 80s, and Bon Jovi, all in one little accessory so neatly tucked into my otherwise unassuming outfit.  What's not to love?

Here's the details...

see through

glasses - booth & bruce / lipstick - maybelline / shirt - zara (old) / tank - h&m (old)  / bralette - gap / pants - gap / boots - dv

Sort of been living in this simple uniform of a sheer tank and cropped pants with an army shirt over the top for the cooler mornings (yes, autumn is coming!).   I don't usually do sheer, but this feels somehow safe in spite of the translucency.  It's a question of balance I think.  As usual in my outfit posts, a lot of these items are from years gone by and no longer available, but here are the details for the ones that are and some alternatives for the ones that aren't...

skirting the issue

A simple outfit that's becoming my go-to uniform for summer weekends: a T by Alexander Wang classic pocket tank, a jersey maxi skirt from Zara, Rag & Bone Vespa sunglasses, Hawaiana flipflops (invisible, but there), a great big silver cuff from a market in Peru, and a solid leather tote I picked up at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul many moons ago.  Most of that's not available anymore, but you can come pretty close.

Some options, and some secrets...

light layers

It's officially spring here in Madrid.  We've done daylight savings time, there's little blossoms blooming everywhere, it's chaotically alternating rain and sun in a totally unpredictable way, and it is finally warm enough to go outside without a big coat on.  Rejoice!  Since it's been a while since my last outfit post, and nothing makes me happier than lots of layers (they call me an onion around here) and I thought I'd show you how I've been piling it on lately.  Nothing fancy, just simple, comfy, easy lightweight layers.

On the left: hat - Anne Demeulemeester // sunglasses- Paul Frank // necklace - mashallah pendant I've had (literally) since I was born // hoodie - American Apparel // parka - Filippa K // t-shirt - T by Alexander Wang // pants - Zara //  sneakers - Zara

On the right: hat - forte forte // jacket - the kooples // scarf - zara (ancient, but it's just a sheet of jersey fabric - DIY anyone?) // bag - cos (last season) // blouse - zara // jeans - fidelity // boots - moma

As you can see, a lot of these items have been in my closet for ever, so you might not be able to get the exact same pieces now, but here are some other options currently available...

the villager

Look, it's a photo of my great-great-great-grandmother from Siberia.  Just kidding.  It's just me.

It's been raining a lot here and I have a deep-seated hatred of umbrellas, so I have to don a big furry hat and an oversized wool shawl to keep me dry.  When I realized I was wandering the streets of Madrid dressed as a villager from another country in another century, I couldn't resist sharing.

double your fun

Sometimes one shirt is just not enough.  Go ahead, double up, pile it on, mix and match.

And remember to cuff your sleeves...

denim & bling

I'm all for the slightly masculine, minimalist fashion that seems to be defining us all lately, but every once in a while it's nice to undo those top buttons on our shirts, show a touch of skin and put on a little bling.  Contrast it with a simple utilitarian chambray shirt and you're good to go.  (Extra points for pairing this look with jeans, as I did today, for a head-to-toe texas tuxedo, or canadian tuxedo, depending on where you're from.)

liberated leopard

button down shirt: J Crew, t-shirt: H&M

I bought this leopard print button down last august, but honestly could never get much wear out of it.  It always came off like some awkward middle child between sex kitten secretary and old lady secretary.  And yes, I did the math, it's taken me over five months to figure out how to wear a shirt.  But now I'm hooked.  Thank god for simple black t-shirts!  I love how the combination makes it feel so easy; it takes away any possible stuffiness or overt self-awareness that the shirt has on its own, and leaves me with a new carefree, lighthearted fun layering piece.

Notice anything else that might have helped change the mood of my shirt?

Yup!  I finally did it!  And honestly, I don't miss my hair one single bit.  I feel young, adventurous, liberated, and unburdened.  Which is odd, because I loved my long hair and never thought it weighed me down at all.  So to any of you out there thinking of taking the plunge, I say go for it.  And as a side bonus, all your clothes and accessories will feel brand new!

dip-dyed maxi

Sort of along the lines of my tie-dye post the other day, I found this maxi dress ridiculously on sale at Oysho.  It's really just a dip-dyed knit cotton sheath with a bell-tipped belt, but it makes me feel like a greek princess.   I jingle when I walk, like a cat with a bell around its neck, but somehow, that's totally ok with me.

green sleeves

There is no beach or pool anywhere in my near future, but I bought myself this new bikini top to trick myself into feeling like the possibility existed. As if I could just pop over to the seaside at any given moment, cause you know, I am wearing a swimsuit after all.  In reality I just love the blue on blue ikat pattern, and I think it's a great alternative to a regular bra for the summer.  Paired here with my Zara T-shirt worn backwards, which seems to me to be the better direction for it.

T-shirt: Zara, bikini top: Oysho, pants: H&M, bracelets: DIY, Oliphant, and from a market in Santa Fe

busted jeans & lace

I'm having a sort of a crappy day, losing hours and hours of my life to searching for affordable tickets home for the summer.  The wonderful fares I'd found yesterday have disappeared.  Poof!, they're gone.  Why do they torture us like that?  Is it to teach us not to procrastinate?  And will I ever learn my lesson?  At least I have my new lace tank top paired with holey boyfriend jeans.  That must count for something, right?  Enough questions, I have to go back to Kayak now and see if they'll take souls or first-born children in exchange for an international ticket.

 

tank: Zara, camisole & jeans: H&M

all tied up

Debuting my new T by Alexander Wang tank top, and I thought I'd step out of my comfort zone a bit and tie a scarf around my head.  I actually loved it, but does anyone have a trick to keep it from sliding back periodically throughout the day?  Or is my hair just slipperier than everyone else's?

a surprise photo after the jump...

what i'm wearing - pink happiness

You may remember these pants, and no, I still haven't had them hemmed, but am wearing them all the time anyway, rolled up like I'm on my way to dig for clams. The bright color makes me so happy!   I think between these and my fuchsia lipstick, I may be a bit obsessed with pink right now.  Or just with color in general.  Or maybe just with being happy.

pants - Zara, tank - H&M, camisole - Calida, bralette - Urban Outfitters

what i'm wearing - linen & leather

This linen jacket was a total impulse buy from the Garden Party Collection last year at H&M.  I didn't wear it at all last year, I'll admit it.  And then I saw it on sale for half the price I paid and felt like kicking myself repeatedly.  No matter though, because this year it's getting nonstop loving.  It's perfect for this in-between weather we've been having lately.

what i'm wearing - rainy day

I feel like recently all my posts were declarations and celebrations of summer's arrival.  Well, it was premature.  It's spring.  Full on, allergy-ridden, rain-soaked spring.  And not just rain, but crazy torrential downpours, accompanied by thunder and lightening.  I actually love it, and find it oddly exhilerating every time there's another clap of thunder, like Zeus himself is sending me his energy, saying, "Go get 'em!"  But it definitely does call for a different wardrobe.

more after the jump...

what i'm wearing - tiny flowers

I said this the other day, and I'll say it again, summer's actually here!  Temperatures are steady hovering around 80 degrees now (that's about 27 celsius, which I know because I looked it up.  Six and a half years here and I still think in farenheit.)  Time to celebrate with airy tank tops and clog sandals.  By the way, for those of you who advised me to keep these clogs, thank you!  I absolutely love them and they are ridiculously comfortable. 

a fish tale

Yesterday it felt officially like summer.  Hot and sunny and gorgeous.  I had to be in the theatre by 3, so I took the morning off, no class, no rehearsal, just some relaxing down time.  Which I fully took advantage of by braiding my hair.  Yes, that was the extent of my productivity, and I loved it.  Really trying to learn how to slow down when I have the chance, and not feel guilty about it.

what i'm wearing

This is my first outfit post since I started seriously investing myself in this blog, and to be honest I'm a little nervous.  Funny how that happens.  It's not like I get  nervous when I go outside and people see what I'm wearing, but posting a photo here makes me feel a bit naked.  I do want to keep this blog personal and real though, and I love the idea of occasionally posting what I'm wearing.   What do you think?

more after the jump...