Falling for Paris

I'm back...and I come bearing Paris photos! These pictures were taken in the Luxembourg Gardens of Paris on our first day in the city. Fall had definitely reached the city, and I loved all the rich autumn colors in the trees. That's one thing about being from Southern California...while we have temperate weather all year long, we miss out on the beautiful colors of fall!

My scarf was perfect for the chilly day, and I liked how it blended in with all the scenery. Ever since I found it in a small flea market in Galway, I have taken it with me on almost all my weekend trips and it has been my go-to travel scarf—it folds out into a pashmina which is perfect for long flights and bus rides!

Anyways, this post is a bit of a teaser since I'm off to Germany tomorrow and won't be back 'til the end of the weekend. This trip is my and Andrew's last hurrah before we buckle down and write endless amounts of papers for the end of semester...

Until next time :)

Melina

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Outfit Details:

Blazer—H&M (remixed // similar) | Top—H&M | Scarf—Galway market (similar)

Skirt—Topshop (remixed // shop) | Boots—Marks & Spencer (similar)

On the Island

{Chambray—Urban Outfitters (shop), Lace Top—Anthropologie (similar // remixed),

Skirt—Topshop (shop), Ankle Boots—Marks & Spencer (similar), Bag—Fossil (shop)}

I wore this outfit on a little excursion Andrew and I took with some friends to the smallest of the three Aran Islands, Inisheer. We took a ferry to the island off the coast of Galway and had a lot of fun exploring the beautiful landscape all day.

To stay warm, I made use of layers (two thermals underneath my shirt, as well as double tights!) and decided to get creative by layering one of my favorite lace pieces over my chambray top. If I was still living in LA, I would have worn the lace top underneath and thrown my chambray over like this. However, the cold Irish weather has encouraged me to be more experimental with my outfit choices and try new things to stay warm and fashionable. On top of that, I have noticed that layering collared shirts under clothing is really popular in Ireland, so this outfit is definitely inspired by the local style.

Stay tuned for more pictures from my island adventure!

Like a Local

{Cardigan—H&M, Fitted Sweater—Nordstrom BP, Skirt—Topshop (shop),

Scarf—Nordstrom BP (similar), Earrings—Forever 21, Boots—Marks & Spencer}

While fashion is sometimes about standing out, other times it can be used to blend in. I was pretty proud of myself for this ensemble because I think I kind of sort of passed for a Cork local. Hair pulled into a high bun, big stud earrings, black skirt and tights, booties, and a classic black cardigan. All these things put together make for the perfect Irish outfit! I'm usually not one to dress to fit in, but being an international student has made me constantly aware of my difference from everyone else. And while it can be cool to be identified as an "LA native," it's also nice to be able to use fashion as a way to blend into the local scene and try new styles and trends.

P.S. This is my first attempt at taking outfit photos inside. Because, you see, Ireland is a bit cold and rainy, so my motivation to go outside to snap a few outfit photos has decreased exponentially since moving in!