Friend Friday: Where I'm From

Today on Friend Friday we're discussing where we're from and how this has influenced our style. I love reading other bloggers posts as it is a look into who they are and what their perspective is. I think geography greatly influences a persons style and I am happy to take part . Head on over to ModlyChic to read the rest!

1. What part of the world do you blog from? 

 Pacific Northwest, Portland more specifically. Within Portland: the Northwest neighborhood.

2. If you had to describe the overall mode of dress for where you live
what would you say?

One word: Hipster

Portland is overrun with hipsters. In fact, there are so many that one really can't group them into the "hipster category", it has morphed into a way of life, status quo for the city at large.

Flannel, jorts, vintage, thrifted, crafted, toms, you name the hipster influence, Portland's got it. 

In some aspects, I like this "anything works" mentality, but I do miss "normal" people, if that makes sense. I feel like so much of Portland's identity is wrapped up in the "more alternative than thou" mentality that the average Joe/Jane is looked down upon for jeans and a t-shirt. 

Urban goats, typical.

3. Do you fit in with the status quo around you or do you break the
mold?

I suppose I fit in to the Portland look. I love casual. I love my Frye boots. I love jeans. However, I am very far from being one of the cool Portland kids that have all the fresh hipster styles.

4. If you have lived or traveled to another part of the country/world 

did your clothing choices evolve? 

My three years in New York changed my style immensely. Prior to the city, I had spent all my life in the Pacific Northwest. I lived in a tiny town with no malls, no shops and very limited clothes. As a result, I didn't pay much mind to my clothes. I wore jeans and lots of hippie clothes in the summer. Moving to new york opened up a whole new perspective to me. I realized that clothes really can improve one's confidence and was finally exposed to endless stores. Most importantly, though, New York's effortless style influenced me. Everywhere you look, people look fresh. Whether it was at home in Harlem, walking to work on Wall St. or shopping in Soho, you are bombarded with so many different styles and so many effortlessly cool people. This had a great effect and continues to influence my style and confidence!

5. If you had to describe your style by naming a specific city, what
would you be? 

Brooklyn?

While I love New York style, I am a bit more casual than the average Manhattanite. Brooklyn is kind of a mix of Portland and NYC. Yeah, that sounds right.

We come spinning out of nothingness, scattering stars like dust.

This outfit felt so happy and light, the skirt is made for spinning and with my good mood I couldn't stop twisting in turning like a whirling dervish. I've always been intrigued with Sufism. I find their spirituality pretty amazing and was stunned by the beautiful whirling dervishes (video) the last time I went to Turkey. They are Rumi's followers and believe the whirling is an act of love. I've always felt a bit of a connection to the Sufi mysticism, even my mom's name is a Sufi one!

On that random note, I am really looking forward to the next few days. I leave in a couple hours for a 5+ hour road trip to the southern coast to my hometown. My mom is graduating from college and I had to be there to help celebrate such an accomplishment. Considering road trips are one of my greatest joys and my hometown is one of the most beautiful coastal spots, it's looking to be a good weekend.

Top-Target

Skirt, belt, bracelet-H&M

Shoes-Ross

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend filled with adventure, I'm hoping for nice weather which means pictures to come on Monday!

Currently listening to:

Jump Around

I don't know what got into me with these photos but I wasn't feeling the serious looks. I think it's fun to ham it up occasionally and not take myself so seriously. Or maybe I've just been inspired by Laurel from Trophy Boutique, I love her outfit shots.

Dress-H&M

Belt-H&M

Bracelet-Forever 21

Sandals-Ross

I wore this on one of hot days this weekend and was perfect. I literally jumped for joy to be out running around in the sun. I sound like a broken record at this point, but summer is my time to shine! When will I learn and just move south and make it official. I need like a couple weeks of rainy/snowy weather a year and sun for the remainder. How 'bout you all, what's your season of choice?

I'm embarrassed for myself at this point

wet hot american summer

Am I the only one that finds enormous pleasure in putting on NPR and blogging? No, just me? Please tell me I'm not the only news junkie out there! Just one of life's little pleasures, you know? Some "me time" so to speak.

Moving on. Oh my god, people, the weather in Portland this weekend was amazing! I feel like spring (summer?) is finally here and it is long overdue. I don't remember the last winter I've experienced that went into June. I am beyond happy to spend all day in the sun soaking up that vitamin D.

Dress-Forever 21

Shoes-Value Village

Bracelet-Until There's A Cure

I went shopping after work on Friday (bad idea, terrible traffic) and picked up a few things at Forever 21 and H&M and I am loving this dress. It was the perfect buy. Short, but not so short that I have to worry about it all day, light but not see through, and a southwest print that I'm loving. I spent hours walking around Portland in the hot hot heat and this dress was just the perfect thing. I see myself fighting the urge to wear this every single day this summer.

This is my after work, zone out, relax and go eat tacos outfit. I want to wear it ever single day. With the longer days and endless string of company, I've been going out after work several days a week. Typically, I come home from work and completely decompress so this is kind of a nice change after the long dark winter. 

 Cardigan-Buffalo Exchange (Gap)

Top-Forever 21

Jeans-Gap

Shoes-DSW

My next line of company is my brother and my best friend from childhood, definitely looking forward to them and memorial day weekend. Who has big plans?
On a final note, can I just say that I'm kind of relieved to see flared jeans coming back? As much as I like a skinny jean, it is undeniably more comfortable for my hips to be in a pair of higher waisted, loose cut pair of jeans. Who is with me?

Jesus is coming, look busy!

I have had a pretty full week. Company, work, running, meetings and...orientation for graduate school! I'm getting super pumped to head back to school and already met a few people I really like in the program. As overwhelming as taking out more loans is, I know that this degree is totally worth it in the long run. I will be working, in class and two days in a field assignment starting this fall. I'm realizing I really need to embrace my (relatively) free time while I'm just working right now. 

In between all this running around, I picked up this tank-top and I must say I'm loving it. I have always loved tribal and southwest influenced colors and designs and this spring/summer I plan to fully embrace this trend and deck myself in turquoise jewelry and tribal print as often as possible.
A little confession of mine: my tripod broke and so I've been either using my webcam or haphazardly propping up my point and shoot. I've found it works quite well as long as headless shots are ok. Eh, who cares when there's pretty colors, right?

 Tank-Top-Forever 21

Jeans-Gap

Wedges-Thrifted

Bracelet-Gift from BF

Yes, I'm busting out the myspace-worthy picture of the mirror.

I hope everyone is having a fairly easy transition to the work week this Monday, here's to long spring days and warm evenings!