The Evolution of My Style: a Hilarious Retrospective

Everyone's style changes over time - it's part of growing up. That doesn't make looking back any less funny, though! Any of my family members could tell you that as a child, "dress" was not in my vocabulary. I was all basketball shorts and Life is Good t-shirts, and almost everything I owned had puppies or neon peace signs on it. And as I got older, it didn't get much better - like many of you, I went through the standard "emo" phase and straight into "scenester" territory. All of this is terribly embarrassing, but entirely hilarious. I decided to surf through my old photos and give you guys all a good laugh as I examined how my style evolved into what it is today.

Too Cool for Elementary School

(Super flattering pictures courtesy of my dad's Facebook. Unsuspecting family members have been cropped out to spare dignity)

Hobbies: Pretending to be Harry Potter characters, reading Meg Cabot, obsessively playing Neopets
My style: "Literally just rolled out of bed" chic
Signature pieces: Tye-dye Hawaiian Spongebob shirt, flare jeans from Limited Too with the American flag screenprinted on them
Favorite accessories: Animal jewelry (not much changes in a decade, apparently), jelly bracelets, scrunchies with peace signs on them
Preferred hairstyle: Ridiculously severe ponytail

Preteen Angst

(This one picture kind of says it all)

Hobbies: Going to concerts, scrolling through the Fall Out Boy message boards, dramatically Livejournal-ing about my feelings
My style: Some combination of "lazy suburbanite" meets "misunderstood emo"
Signature pieces: Hot Topic Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends hoodie, 50 shades of black men's band t-shirts, beat-up Converse with the toes signed by a now-irrelevant metal band
Favorite accessories: The paper bracelets they give you at concerts (see above), skull necklaces
Preferred hairstyle: The classic "brush-and-go"

Aspiring Scene Queen

Hobbies: Pretending to know more about bands than you, taking Myspace selfies, not going outside, denying the fact I needed glasses
My style: "Human Highlighter"
Signature pieces: White bandana, Vans slip-ons in a rainbow of colors and patterns, ill-fitting skinny jeans
Favorite accessories: Plastic necklaces with diamonds on them, black eyeliner expertly matched with dark brown eyeshadow
Preferred hairstyle: Stubby pigtails and greasy bangs

The In-Betweener

Hobbies: "Photography," complaining about my minimum wage job, stressing about college from freshman year of high school onward
My style: "Half-Hearted Preppy" meets "Leftover Relics From the Scene Era"
Signature pieces: Like, 3 whole shirts from Urban Outfitters, assorted Hollister sweatshirts, Nike Dunks, skinny jeans
Favorite accessories: Weird half-smile half-scowl (pictured), ridiculously oversized purses
Preferred hairstyle: Straightened in the front, couldn't be bothered to fix the back, paired with super trendy overgrown bangs

50's American Girl Doll

I think my style evolved into something resembling what it is today right around the summer after high school, when I dyed my hair red. My mother likes to call it "I Love Lucy," but I once described it to a friend as "50's American Girl Doll" with touches of "Librarian Chic"   and I'm sticking to it. It's a little bit girly, a little bit loud, and a little bit classic. There are a lot of polka dots, gauzy tops, and floral prints to be found in my wardrobe. I have a whole drawer full of tights and my dorm closet is actually overflowing with fit-and-flare dresses. 10 year old me might be a bit horrified, but I think it suits me just fine.

I hope you enjoyed this incredibly embarrassing portal to the past - it was a lot of fun for me to put together. I'd love to see some of your style relics!

Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Have you ever been to a New England apple orchard and eaten apple cider donuts fresh from the fryer, covered in delicious cinnamon sugar? They make your hands all sticky and grainy, but it's SO worth it, because your taste buds are doing dances of joy. If you've never experienced this, make these donuts IMMEDIATELY. If you have, I probably don't need to convince you.

We don't need to get into semantics about how these are in no way, shape, or form seasonally relevant - I made these for my mother's Christmas office party a few months and people went nuts over them; I made a batch for my roommates last month, and they were gone in a day. They're (slightly?) healthier than their fried counterparts because they are baked and made with white whole wheat flour. You don't need a special donut pan for these, which is not something you can say about a lot of donut recipes. And reducing the apple cider makes your house smell like a warm, apple-y wonderland. They're so perfect for Sunday brunch, and they keep for a week or so in an airtight container (not that they last that long in my house) for an on-the-go breakfast, or lunch, or dinner, or snack. These are just really good, guys. Check out my post on Simmer Magazine to get the recipe, and get cookin'!

Things I Love Thursdays

Blogging has been slow coming this week, as I'm insanely busy and stresssssed from apartment hunting! This slushy, gross weather is putting me in a funk (hello, where is spring?) and I feel like all the apartments I see have something wrong with them I just can't look past. We've only been to a few places in person, but I feel like this process has been going on for a lifetime! Maybe I'm just too picky. My fantastically optimistic future roomie said that the more she thought about the places we saw, the more she liked them - I was just the opposite! Are any of you guys in the moving-off-campus grind? It's seriously the worst. I feel so drained.

Anyway, here are a few things that brightened up my week:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_v7QrIW0zY]

This lip dub engagement is the sweetest thing I've ever seen! I was tearing up at the end.

um, not that I have weddings on the brain (I blame Z and our constant TLC marathons), but isn't this the most gorgeous engagement ring you've ever seen? This amazing Newburyport company resizes vintage pieces, and they have the prettiest bands! I've always thought nontraditional rings were so much more elegant than big hulking diamonds.

This tote from Francesca's looks so quintessentially "summer in Cape Cod" I could die. Doesn't it look perfect for the beach? I'm so ready for that warm weather!

The Laughing Squid posted an article about a Dutch horror film (naturally, it'd be Dutch) that is utilizing your smartphone to make an interactive movie experience that supposedly makes you feel like you're in the movie. My inner technology nerd, horror fanatic, and marketing minor rejoiced at this perfect pairing! I only wish they could have come out with it last fall, when I was living in the Netherlands. I can't wait to hear what people think of it.

Speaking of movies, IFF Boston, my very favorite Independent Film Festival, is on the horizon. I caught a glimpse of the line-up this year, and wow! The East, which I've been dying to see (definitely not for Alexander Skarsgard-related reasons...), and Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing are both screening there at the end of April. I also saw a bunch of trailers that looked super promising! It's going to be hard to pick just a few, but money doesn't grow on trees. There's just something about indie film, am I right?

This little guy makes me smile. Dogs do the funniest things!

These Tangled Rapunzel nails are to die for. I'm so bad at nail art, but this one has a video tutorial...maybe it's worth a shot? It's so spring! (I have a Disney problem)

These sandals, guys. I can envision them with so many outfits. Actually, any sandals. This weather...I can't do it anymore.

Happy Spring, everyone - even if it doesn't look like it outside, I know the sun is coming soon!

Things I Love Thursdays

I think it's so fun when other bloggers share what they love weekly, so I thought I'd give this a try! Here's what caught my eye this week:

This Betsey Johnson alligator necklace is the ultimate conversation piece. It's so fun and summery - and it moves! I can't get over it.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBeCMVU3MYU]

Fun fact: I really, really love Jurassic Park. When the commercial for the 3D re-release came on when I was watching Hulu in the gym, I had a minor freak-out (and probably scared the people jogging next to me). I will be shelling out gross amounts of money to see this at the IMAX AMC in Boston, without any shame whatsoever.

This is old news to a lot of you, but this photographer and his girlfriend have a serious case of wanderlust, and he's photographed her leading him all over the world. So romantic!

These little guys have popped up at LA Burdick in Boston, which means that spring has officially sprung! Not to mention, all the snow has melted. I just really don't like winter. Bring on the sunshine and Easter eggs! Wheee.

This Pineapple Punch dress from Modcloth is so detailed and lovely, I'm obsessed. Fingers crossed for a restock (that comes around the same time I get back to my summer job)!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hNxemBIz-g]

"Justin Timberweek" on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon has been absolutely hilarious all around, but this skit (part of the long-standing "Real People, Fake Arms" gag) had me in tears. Justin Timberlake is such a comedy pro, and this is pure, fantastic silliness. Watch Part 2, too!

Society6 has a lot of fun takes on movie posters by truly talented graphic artists, but this one ("The Big Wazowski") had me rolling. How perfect is that?

This awesome Thoreau quote - we're covering transcendentalism in my American Lit class, which doesn't help ease my longing to go back to my beloved Walden Pond. It's been too long!

This social experiment tested what happened when you put 2 strangers together in a ball pit. It's really heartwarming!

Did you find anything awesome on the internet this week?

Boston Campus Style: When It's Warmer Outside (!!)

I was overjoyed when I saw the forecast for today - 55 degrees! Unfortunately, yesterday's fantasy didn't exactly match today's reality, as the high didn't even reach 50. I blame those stubborn clouds. Nevertheless, it was nice to get some fresh air in, and not have to wear a jacket for a day. I think I have a bit of Seasonal Affective Disorder...I get so gloomy on rainy or wintry days. I just want it to be warm enough to lounge by Walden Pond!

I picked up this dress over spring break with my mom, having fallen head over heels for  it immediately (chambray AND polka dots, and for only $20 - happy days)! Break was somewhat relaxing, but much too short, and punctuated by tons of apartment woes. The Boston real estate market is incredibly difficult to navigate! I also got a hefty dose of nostalgia when Rick Steves' Europe hit Amsterdam, Cinque Terre, London, AND Paris...I nearly lost it when he said "dank u wel" to the Veolia attendant. Oh, the many train stations I was lost/tired/slowly losing my grip in just a few months ago! For today, though, I'll just take solace in what little sunshine mother nature delivers me and mix stripes with polka dots, just because I can. If you're interested in achieving a similar effect, I suggest sticking to the same color palate (blues and whites, here) and mixing one big, sparse print with one tighter print.

Dress: Monteau Los Angeles
Tights & Flats: Target
Cardigan: Poof
Necklace: Betsey Johnson (similar)
Tote: Forever 21