August 19-- spandex and subsequent huge step up from spandex.

I'll start today with the outfit I wore to work out/take Tasia Boo for a walk.


There is a very good reason why you can't really see it-- it's entirely spandex and extremely unattractive.
Of course I wore this slightly cuter outfit to work for my Goodbye Luncheon and got a few blurry, grainy pictures to share.
Fortunately for everyone, Connie managed to capture a better moment on Broad Street after our sushi dinner. I had edamame and vegetable rolls. Yum!
Obviously my best friend is also a fashionista:

Soon after these shots, we came across a salon and decided to get impromptu mani-pedis (well, we got a total of one mani-pedi between the two of us-- she got a mani, I got a pedi). I chose OPI's Big Apple Red:
dress- Nordstrom, off the sale rack
necklace- made for me by my friend McLaren
purse- random NYC street vendor
shoes- Banana Republic Outlet

Connie's dress (that I'll definitely be borrowing at some point considering you can only be real BFF if you are are the same clothes size)- Urban Outfitters

ohmygodohmygodohmygod it's here

I feel like a kid on Chrismukkah morning!!



More on this later in the week.

August 18-- thank god other people can sew

Although I bought this dress over a year ago I've never worn it because one of the buttons fell off. I finally took it to the dry-cleaners to be fixed (my sewing skills are kind of lacking. I'm working on it!) a few days ago and I'm extremely happy with it.
I also bought an adorable compact mirror from Claire's. Now I can put on lipgloss anywhere! My dreams have come true.
Expensive lipgloss is another one of my many weaknesses.

Fixed buttons!


dress- F21
shoes- DSW
compact- Claire's

August 17-- this is how I dress down

Kind of late. Sorry! I was spending time with my best friend, who just got back from her job as a park ranger in Colorado! Here's today's outfit:




The boots take the outfit to the next level.
All the pictures I tried to get of the scarf came out looking like these.
Special guest appearance by today's lunch:
Toasted multi-grain bread topped with Eastern Market hummus, spinach, and tomato and a slice of cheddar from a nearby deli. To make it vegan, take out the cheese and make sure the bread doesn't contain casein or whey. This sandwich was so good I had to divide it into two separate lunches to fully appreciate it's majesty. I cut it in half (triangularly.. triangually??) and ate one half at noon and the other at 2. As a side dish, I chose a fresh nectarine, also from Eastern Market.
If you're interested in more delicious healthy food, check out my fellow BU classmate Elizabeth's blog. She really knows what she's talking about.

cardigan- American Eagle (via TJ Maxx)
tank- VS
jeans- Nordstrom
shoes- DSW. or maybe Off-Broadway?
scarf- from Eastern Market!!
necklace- Linda Gissen

New Online Clothing Store Obsession-- Ruche

I have only just begun my journey towards great style, but let me just say-- HOW have I never heard of Ruche?! It's an affordable online boutique with tons of beautiful pieces. Take a look:

How great would this dress be with sandals in the Summer and brown boots in the Fall?!
This top is classy, fun, and a striking shade of red.
I am all about this huge bow.
I'm not really much of a shoe girl (I love them of course but I'm not obsessed); however, wedges recently became my new BFF. How could you say no to a high heel that makes your legs look amazing without the discomfort of a stiletto?
All the jewelry on this site is under $20. I die.

Use the code 'painfullyhip' and get 10%off!

August 16-- hot jewels and fresh fruit

I spent the day looking at cute jewelry, vintage clothes, and incredible fresh produce. No, I wasn't in Heaven, I went to Eastern Market (on the Orange Line). If you've never been, GO. It's and outdoor farmer's/flea market held every Saturday and Sunday.

August in DC? Oh the humidity! Easy and breezy is the way to go. Please excuse my haggard appearance-- it was the end of the day.
The necklaces I wore. I'll post the jewelry I bought in a later post.
Unbeatable hummus (with Tostitos) as an appetizer.
Lyss and I made an incredible salad with fresh arugula, spinach, cucumber, mushrooms, walnuts, cheese, and the most mouth-watering tomatoes I have ever tasted.
I've been wanting a straw hat for forever, but with only 2 more weeks in the District there's really no point.

skirt- Old Navy
top- Forever 21
necklaces- randomly acquired
shoes- DSW

August 15-- Dinner in Old Town

I love Old Town, Alexandria for many things-- the beautiful waterfront restaurants, the quirky boutiques, the great ice cream, the adorable townhouses, and, most notably, the well-dressed inhabitants. So you'll understand that picking an outfit for a dinner out in Old Town on a perfect summer evening required a special outfit.
How is this outfit special? Well, I'll tell you:

1. I borrowed my mom's vintage gold bracelet (on my left wrist)
2. I got the necklace from some random vendor at the GSU (for all of you not acquainted with the BU campus, GSU stands for George Sherman Union, where we get our food).
3. The skirt isn't actually a skirt-- it's a strapless dress that I folded down and tucked under the waistband. I had to belt it because otherwise it looked like I was wearing a petticoat.

The pendant is actually clear, not black, which makes it very versatile. In an attempt to show what it would look like with a different background I plopped it down on the railing of my deck so the wood would show through. Unfortunately, the bird poop I didn't notice was chillin 1inch away from where the pendant lay decided to ruin the shot. Foiled by fowl yet again!

necklace- vintage, randomly acquired
bracelet- mom's
top- BP Nordstrom
skirt/dress- Wet Seal
shoes- Mudd
bag-H&M