bag lady

Last Thursday, I went to a purse factory in Thiene with my Italian class....ostensibly to practice Italian while in a shop but I definitely didn't use a single word of it. If there are two things that I love, it's purses and shoes...could there be a better place to live right now? I don't thiiiiink so. I managed to snag this beautifuuul grey hobo with a removable strap so I can wear it crossbody style for only €40. This purse could totally go for at least $200 back in the States, if not more so I fully made out like a bandit.

After the purse perusing, we went into the town (village? city?) of Thiene. Apparently Thiene is one of the richest cities in Italy with several of the wealthiest families living within the town's boundaries. I tried to get some tourist information but it was all in Italian so I wasn't sure what anything meant...since I couldn't figure it out, I just picked out the ones with the prettiest pictures. Sorry I'm not sorry.

every town in this country has its own freaking castle

although sometimes it's called a villa...i think

Empty House Echo

So sorry for the long absence! I hate that I haven’t been able to post for the past 2 weeks and hate even more that my posting will continue to be iffy until the end of July. By then I should be settled in Italy and everything and I have no doubt that I’ll have about a bajillion pics to share of my first few days in the European paradise that is soon to be home haha. Okay so I am officially moved out of my house in Maryland as of today. Anybody who’s moved will be able to tell you in DEEEEETAIL about how much the process of having to pack up everything in your house sucks. Now imagine having to do this every three to four years. As any military kid can tell you, you have your super great, efficient packers and the ones who take 3 hours to pack a linen closet. Guess which ca my family had? I swear I have never experienced such slow movers in any of my previous seven moves. It was like torture. But I’m just glad that everything is safely stowed in boxes and on its way across the Atlantic.

In other news, I cut my hair! Right now it’s the shortest my hair has ever been and it definitely going to take some getting used to. I basically live my life in ponytails (blame the cheerleader in me) and now it’s too short to put up in a respectable ponytail! I mean I still have a little nub if I try to put it up but it’s not exactly attractive haha. I decided that my new post-grad life in a new country on a new continent demanded a new hairstyle. What do you guys think of it? (note: excuse the shoddy photo quality. I’ve had this computer for over a year and a half and this might be the first time I’ve used the camera for anything more than skyping)

oh hey there generic hotel room print...

relax-ie in a maxi

...terrrrrible rhyme. I know.

I went to the mall today with a MISSION and it was totally successful! I FINALLY bought the perfect maxi skirt! Do you ever get this image in your head of the perfect article of clothing and you know that you simply need to have it but you can't find it anywhere? Well I found mine! I wanted a skirt long enough to actually reach my feet which can be hard to find since I'm so tall (five eleven wuddup!) in a solid color. I also wanted it to be straight down without any of the ruffly stuff found on most maxi skirts...I'm not trying to do that "Little House in the Prairie" look, thanks but no thanks. The skirt has a fold over waist so it can even double as a dress! Best part: it was on sale for $17! I found it in the last store I went into at the mall today, Old Navy! Probably the first time I've bought something from Old Navy in a few years but I totally dig it...I might have to go back and look around sometime when I actually have time to linger.

the wider the leg, the closer to god?

so APPARENTLY, according several fashion forecasters, skinny jeans are out and wide leg jeans are in and I'm still not sure how I feel about. Don't get me wrong, I've been rocking a pair of AG wide leg jeans since freshmen year and they're super forgiving while still making me look good but skinnies are just so much more versatile. You can wear them with any style shirt and pretty much any type of shoe whereas wide leg jeans can pretty much only go with a fitted top or else you look kind of shapeless. And for shoes, it's pretty much ballet flats or heels because anything else just looks dumb. I've tried pairing mine with flat boots and I can't even bear how awkward it looks (but that's just me). I'm not going to lie, I wore my pair out the last night of fall semester and I think they're great for making you look more dressed up than you actually. I love my wide legs and I'll more than likely buy more (I have a serious jeans obsession) but I'm not sure I'm ready to retire my skinnies j u s t yet.

What do you guys think? Ready to make room in your jeans drawer for some of these lovelies?

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