June 23, 2011

face it

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scarf - import shop in Copenhagen / necklace - vintage, Brooklyn flea market / blazer - vintage, thrifted  / tote - Forever 21 / striped shirt - H&M / overdyed skinnies - Zara / sneakers - Target

Well, we're once again canalside - this time in Amsterdam! We took the bus from Brussels yesterday (more like a series of buses, with a long, unexpected visit to Antwerp en route), and we've since been walking all over the city, taking in the whole chaotic mix of charming neighborhoods and trashy tourist-traps and doing our very best not to get run down by texting cyclists. While we don't have much of a kitchen (at the end of this trip, I may be writing a cookbook on one-pan, no-utensils hot-plate dinners), our skylight-illuminated shed off a back courtyard might be the most charming place we've stayed yet, and our neighborhood is fantastic.

Along with exploring our new city, over the next week I'll be participating in Dress Your Best Week, the brainchild of the ladies over at academichic. The concept is simple, and yet can have such an impact on how you feel - rather than dressing to hide your less favorite parts of your body, to participate in Dress Your Best, all you have to do is think of a part of yourself that you love and build an outfit that highlights it. I know that so many women (myself among them) struggle with body-positivity, and it's all too easy to let the way you dress be dictated by body-insecurity, so DYB is a great way to shake up the way you see yourself. To learn more about Dress Your Best, and to find other bloggers who are participating, please check out this post at academichic.

Of course, all that being said, I hadn't exactly counted on Low Country weather when I made my list of favorite body parts - it's tough to rock a pair of shorts, or a collarbone-baring deep v-neck top when the temperature rarely tops 63 and the wind won't die down! So today I was forced to just go for it and celebrate one of my favorite (even if I feel a little silly saying so) parts - my face. It's been with me my entire life (and completely unchanged - just top with blond curls and you have me at age two), and I think it is the one part of my body that I have never wished to change. I love my brows, my dark blue eyes, my incredibly forgiving skin, the dot under my right eye, and the front tooth I chipped on a microphone at drama camp. More than any other part of me, my face feels like me - so today I circled it with a bold orange scarf, kept the rest of my outfit simple, and let my face be the star.

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33 comments:

Jessica said...

I love this outfit! You look great--And your face is gorgeous! You have beautiful skin!

Emily said...

I love the simplicity of this outfit- it's one of my favorite's that you've worn! And I hope this doesn't sound as creepy as it does in my head, but you really do have a lovely face and your scarf compliments you well! 

Izabela said...

A white/neutral/light-colored blazer is officially on my wishlist! I love this look. And your face is absolutely gorgeous!

amanda said...

i've never been there but i do think that is my all time favorite view.  i love the canal and the row of buildings, the bridge, the bikes.....all of it.  i must visit one day.  and you look lovely :)

Grijze Dagen said...

Oh lovely! I'm paying my friends in Amsterdam a visit next week, can't wait!

Anne said...

I love your look and welcome to my country! Don't worry, the weather will warm up soon. :)

Sorcha said...

That's such a lovely idea for a challenge! Thanks for the heads up; I'll have to check it out. Even though you say you've kept the outfit simple, I really like how your jeans and the scarf are pulled together through the coloured stripes on the t-shirt.

Anja_AHeartandSoulStory said...

super cute outfit!! The blazer and striped shirt work so well with those skinny jeans. The sneakers are my personal favorites - I am no sneaker person normally, but I do need a pair like those :)

Looks & Books said...

This is lovely!! I'm almost jealous it's too hot to wear this outfit (or an approximation of it) now..but I'm bookmarking for later. :)

Ariana said...

I'll be in Amsterdam in early August! Let me know of anything I must visit/do!

Santina said...

I love that your face is your favorite body part, and I can totally see why - you're gorgeous! That scarf perfectly frames your face, and of course, I love the stripes. You always manage to look so put together even in jeans and sneakers!

Jessica Zigenis said...

What an awesome challenge. I love the idea of focusing on your good parts instead of obsessing about your "bad" parts (I hate describing them as bad). I just did a post on accepting my athletic legs, so this is perfect timing and a great post to encourage me on this mission. Thanks!

Anna said...

You look so cute! I love this outfit!  

I of course described my style today as traveling grad student: 'i look like a hobo but it's clean enough to wear to the archive and i didn't want to pay for luggage so i only brought 3 shirts anyway.' (granted I'm only on the road for 10 days).  You've definitely given me something to aspire to!

Kayla M said...

LOVE the mix of colors and the POP of color on the top! :]

-kaylabanana.blogspot.com

Louise, Raspberriesinwinter said...

Your blog is gorgeous! I love your travel and outfit photos.

Marjolein said...

I gasped when I saw you're in Amsterdam! I hope you enjoy it! If the weather is good tomorrow, and you have nothing else to do, you should go to The Hague, there's a free festival there tomorrow (it's said to be the biggest of Europe) and I think you might like it :) It's less then an hour by train! the festival is called Parkpop; it's in a park. http://parkpop.nl/


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emily said...

Thanks Jessica!

emily said...

Thanks Emily! And haha, isn't it funny that we both feel a little creepy talking about my face - it's like it's too personal or something!

emily said...

 I have been loving this blazer on this trip so far - it makes every outfit feel summery, even when the weather isn't exactly cooperating!

emily said...

If you can steer clear of the incessant foreign-stoners-and-porn-seekers culture of the Red Light district, Amsterdam is a ridiculously charming city. We were able to walk almost everywhere from our place, and every walk was a constant barrage of adorable little streets, canals, houses and shops, all tucked away around corners just waiting to be discovered. You should absolutely visit if you have the chance! Just bring an umbrella. :)

emily said...

 We had such a good time there, I was sad to leave! Enjoy your visit!

emily said...

Haha, no kidding! By the end of our stay we were sweating it out, stripped down to shorts and summer dresses, and had to make daily visits to Yscuypje (just around the corner from our house - dangerously close!) for cold treats. :)

emily said...

Thanks Sorcha - I sort of think this shirt is magic,  all the colors make it seem like it won't go with anything, but really it ends up going with everything!

emily said...

 Thanks Anja! If I could have my way I'd be in ballet flats everyday, but they just kill my feet with all the walking we're doing - so for now, I compromise with these sneakers, and they've been great!

emily said...

Haha, thanks! I have to admit that I'm pretty jealous of those with hot weather right now - I brought five (!) pairs of shorts on this trip, and although I do love cool weather, I'm getting worried I'll only get to wear them once or twice!

emily said...

 That's awesome, Ariana!

If you're staying in the middle of the old city, definitely make a point to get out of the center - on my first visit I stayed very central, in an area that's pretty dominated with international shopping (H&M, Zara, etc.), 'coffeeshops,' head shops, and cheap/fast food restaurants, all oriented at tourists, and as a result I wasn't too crazy about the city. This time we stayed a few canal-rings out in Jourdaan, and I liked the city so much better! It was really nice to see the places where locals hang out, and to get away from the bulk of the exploitation-tourism.

Definitely give yourself time to walk around an area called De Negen Straatjes, or the Nine Streets, in Jourdaan - full of tons of lovely houses, cute vintage shops and restaurants, and great ice cream! The best is Yscuypje, at the corner of Prinsengracht and Elandsgracht.

emily said...

Haha, well thank you. :) If nothing else, it's one part of me that I can't imagine changing.

emily said...

That's awesome, Jessica! It really makes such a difference to think about how you're showing off your best rather than masking your 'worst.'

emily said...

 Thanks Anna!

And your description of traveling grad student style is hilarious - sometimes it's worth wearing a few things over and over to avoid those heinous baggage fees!

emily said...

Thank you Kayla!

emily said...

Thanks Louise! My photos are all the work of my super-talented boyfriend - without him, I'd be lost!

emily said...

 Ah, we had such a good time in Amsterdam! I came here once before in college, but I felt like this was the first time I really saw the city and I loved it! Unfortunately we didn't make it to the Hague this time around - but I'm pretty confident there will be a next time someday. :)

Ariana said...

Yay thanks for the tips!

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