My Fall 2015 Wishlist

It would be foolish to assume that there aren't things I want as the fall weather starts to come around. The cape trend has been floating around for a few years now, and I think I might finally be brave enough to go for it. This one from H&M is so chic looking, not to mention the right price. I think I'm going to go for a minimalist tortoiseshell-inspired look this fall and gold accents black and brown really well. I think both the Topshop Filigree Two-Row Necklace and Topshop Geo Drop Pendant Necklace from Topshop's Nordstrom collection would look really classy over a sweater, or just a slouchy tee. Not to mention they would look great with those tortoiseshell earrings, which are from Topshop stores.

Frankly, I'm just really in need of an umbrella and I like the idea of being able to see where I'm going when Chicago brings freezing rain back into my life. This Totes Bubble Umbrella from Target comes with several different color trim, so if you want to spice it up, you could go for a pop of color. Finally, these Annie Side Zip Ankle Booties are also from Target, and I love them. My best friend brought them to my attention, and I've been actively resisting purchase ever since.

What makes your list for this fall? Let me know in the comments, and feel free to check me out on Polyvore if the spirit moves you!

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Mani Monday: Favorite Fall Polishes

Ah, fall. I know not everyone chooses their nail polish based on the season, but as the junkie I am, it's really the only way to get a full scope of my collection. I have a particular weakness for fall colors, be they warm or cool, as they get me in the mood for my very favorite time of the year.

One of the first polishes I ever purchased and go back to every year, is Essie Sassy Satchel. It's a beautiful metallic red brown that just epitomizes fall for me. Zoya Amy is a metallic burnished orange that's great right at the beginning of the season, when you're still feeling the last lingering bits of summer but the leaves have started to turn. Once the weather turns to cool and grey days, Essie Macks is an offbeat blue-toned red that's slightly translucent that makes me thing of rain-slicked streets.

If you're a lover of cooler tones, Essie After School Boy Blazer is about as chic as it gets. It's blackened navy that always makes me feel like I actually know what I'm doing with my style. Essie Over the Edge wormed its way into my heart last fall as gun metal grey continued to dominate fall trends for the millionth year in a row. I think this polish is one of the best ways to wear that particular trend, it's nice and subtle but still different. Blue-greys are also going to come around again this year, and Essie The Perfect Cover Up fits right in line with that. As fall starts to turn toward winter, OPI Viking in a Vinter Vonderland, in addition to having the best name ever, is the purple that owns my heart. It's a nearly black purple that's fully opaque in three coats and just makes me happy to look at.

Going Halfway into Fall

Meet Me in the MIddle - Midi Skirts for Fall by strandedinchi featuring a pleated midi skirt

I've really come to admire Lily Collins' style over the past few years, and her penchant for midi skirts fits in perfectly with what I see as a big trend for fall. The runways have shown us a revival of that ultra-feminine silhouette most notably associated with 50s style. A big part of that is the midi skirt, which hits below the knee, but well above the ankle.

If you really want to go full-on vintage inspired, something along the lines of that gorgeous red skirt is what you should be aiming for. The skirt is nice and full, which exaggerates that mid-century hourglass shape made famous by the likes of Marilyn Monroe. Keep it modern with a casual top, if you don't like a costume-y look (I sometimes do). A crop top, if it's still quite warm, would look super cool, and a patterned button-down once it cools off is just the ticket, if you ask me. This crop top would look awesome, and I adore this button-down.

If you want a less flouncy look, go for a lighter weight fabric with less structure. I'm particularly enamored of that forest green number in the middle there. I feel like it would be fun to spin around in circles while wearing it. #realtalk

What are you all looking forward to for fall? Feel free to follow me here on Polyvore, it's definitely a great place to get inspiration for your look!

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Just Another Mani Monday #3

Please excuse the terrible, terrible quality of this photo, but sometimes ye olde iPhone 4s just really hates the shit out of me. How long until my next upgrade? Sigh. Someday I'll be able to invest in a real camera.

Revlon Nail Enamel in Confident (Limited Edition for Fall/Winter 2014) It took so long for this to show up in the stores near me that I totally forgot about this collection, no joke. It's the Boho Chic Collection by Gucci Westman for Revlon. Whenever I hear the name Gucci, naturally I first think of Gucci Mane, but they are obviously very different people. But back to the matter at hand, I decided to go with this instead of the LE purple shade because I'm gearing up to go as Morticia for Halloween. I know now that this was a mistake and I should have just gotten both #REGRET. Anyway, this picture doesn't do justice to HOW AWESOME THIS COLOR IS. It's a red jelly base with red hex glitter in the exact same shade and it makes your nails look like the ruby slippers and I am in love. I'm gonna wear the shit out of this for Christmas, you better believe it.

Gonna have to go back for that purple, though.

Just Another Mani Monday #2

OPIxPeanuts Good Grief! As nice a yellow polish as I've ever seen, not to mention I'm a big fan of Charlie Brown and the whole gang. I picked this up in the miniatures collection they produced, but I'd love to pick up a full size of this truly enjoyable yellow. I used three coats, which is a bit much, but as far as yellow polish goes, I found this to be the easiest apply of any I've tried in recent memory. Now if only I could figure out where this is on sale! Good Grief!

Where the Hell Did August Go?

Konichiwa, bitches.

I just felt like saying that. Big apologies for my absence, my parents and little sister visited the first weekend of August to see my show, then I finished up at one job the next week, and started another the week after that. Here we are a week later, and I am rather unpleasantly ill. Curse my affinity for working in childcare. Those babies are just so stinkin' cute!

I was wondering, though, if you, beloved readers, might have any suggestions as to what you'd like to see here on Stranded in Chicago as we move inexorably toward fall? Any thoughts you have would be greatly appreciated, and I'll compose some posts based on whatever y'all's awesome ideas might be. In the meantime, I'll try to be better about posting, but I tell ya, the sick does tend to get you down.

Peace, love, and Thursday.

We're All Supposed to Be Wearing Kimonos

Or, at least, that's what it seems like this year, right? Not that I have a problem with it. As a proponent of the maxi dress (looks fancy, feels like you're wearing a blanket in public), obviously I can get behind the idea of the kimono. Loose fitting summer wear with cool patterns that are secretly just glorified bathrobes? Yes, please.

Now, what is generally being referred to as a "kimono" in the fashion world is not, in the strictest sense (or any sense, really), a kimono. That moniker belongs to a specific garment originating from Japan. That's all I'm going to say about that, because this is not a history blog. (This is a history blog.)

At any rate, I've been perusing the internetz, and I found some of these trendy garments that would make an interesting addition to a late summer outfit. I say go full-on print crazy! Go big or go home, amiright? What thinks you?

Summer Kimonos by strandedinchi