The Good Girl Gone Blog

Before Thibault left Baltimore, I asked him to put together a G3B worthy outfit. Determined to use all of the fashion knowledge he'd acquired over the past 5 months, Thibault set out to do what would have been impossible just weeks before (totally kidding).

Here's what he came up with- I will say, he picked most of the pieces himself!I'm sorry for all the awful faces made in these photos- Sophie took them while we were sitting in the back seat of my mom's convertible that was top-down and in motion. It was windy. I made faces. End of story.
Ughhhh sorry about the face- we took limited photos because I'm awkward about having my picture taken in public places.
I'm Wearing:
Shirt: Loft
Belt: Primark
Skirt: Uniqlo
Shoes: DSW
Bow: won via Daily Candy contest

***

Student Report Card

Student Name: Thibault
Age: 21
Major: Physics
Course title: Fashion 101

Use of color:
Grade: A-
Teacher's comments: Great choice of red! It adds a pop of color to the outfit without being too overwhelming.

Attention to detail:
Grade: A-
Teacher's comments: The student chose both the bow embellished shoes and the bow hair clip, which I think go very nicely together. It's details like these that help pull together an outfit.

Use of accessories:
Grade: B+
Teacher's comments: Although the student correctly chose both the shoes and hair piece, he neglected to add a belt to this outfit. The belt shown was the model's own addition.

Ability to match:
Grade: B-
Teacher's comments: The model had to choose the skirt for this outfit...

Overall Grade: A- 

On behalf of everyone at G3B Style Academy, please accept this diploma:Congratulations Thibault, you've passed with flying colors! The people of Switzerland thank you and look forward to your style advice in the army.

When I saw these rhinestone-encrusted Jellies at Primark, I knew they had to be mine. Sure, there's nothing practical about a pair of slip-on sparkly Jellies, but that's what makes them so glam. Even in the store, I imagined myself slipping them on to do not-so-glamourous tasks like weeding the garden (ha!), walking the dog and taking out the trash. Because hey, you can still look fabulous even when cleaning up dog poop. It's all about the accessories ;)

Also, seriously- when was the last time you wore Jellies? I still remember a pair I had as a child- they were clear, strappy sandals with silver sparkles and (what I thought at the time were) super high heels. They were absolutely perfect.

Also, remember those great COH jeans I found lying neatly in a pile in the trash room? This top came from the same place :) And yes, I'm pretty sure I'm the only (stylish) employee who has ever worn rhinestoned Jellies in the workplace. What can I say? Sometimes I have the fashion sense of a five-year-old!

I'm Wearing:
Shirt: Found
Tank: Target
Belt: Thrifted in Victoria, BC, Canada
Skirt: Annoname via Loehmann's
Shoes: Primark
Necklace: stolen from Sophie

PS- Can you tell this is a pre-makeup post?

PPS- Who got my "Princess Sparkles" reference??

I'm not sure if I mentioned this, but a few weeks ago my new, perfect, amazing Betsey Johnson Biker Babe Wallet (a rue la la score) was stolen. Clearly I was upset/peeved because I had to call and cancel all of my credit cards (the thief spent around $1200 at places like Wal-mart and BestBuy in Pennsylvania), get a new license and deal with my lack of insurance cards, but I was also distraught about losing my new favorite wallet.

Here, let me describe it to you:

• large enough to hold about a gazillion credit cards
• could zip all the way around from the outside so nothing could fall out
• had space for receipts and cash
• included a zippered section for change
• could probably fit my new phone
• had that great new leather smell

So now I'm faced with a dilemma- my wallet was expensive, I'm not going to lie. Sure, it was highly discounted because it came from Rue La La, but that does't mean I feel like shelling out the same amount again.

Though I've found the original wallet online at smartbargains for 10% off the already discounted price + free shipping, I'm not sure if I should get it again. Maybe I'm being superstitious and silly, but I feel like having the same wallet again might just make me sad. I want to get over this whole debacle, but until the credit card people get all of my stuff figured out/I find an acceptable wallet, I can't let it go. Additionally, I know I won't be happy until I find not just a good wallet, but a great wallet. I don't want something cheap looking, or something that can't live up to my good old Betsey.

What can I say, I have high standards.

So...I need your help. Here are a few of my top picks. I want my next wallet to have as many of the great features as my old wallet as possible. Also, I don't want to spend more than $50. Feel free to chime in with feedback/other ideas and don't forget to vote in the poll at the bottom of my post.

Thanks for your help!

  The original Betsey Johnson Biker Babe wallet, available at Smartbargains, originally $118, now available for $55.98 + 10% off + free shipping...so around $50.

This Michael Kors Gansavoort wallet is also from Smartbargains, and coincidentally the same price/deal. It's available in a "rose" color that's actually quite nice and would look nice with the big Coach bag I always carry.

Morrocan Clutch from French Connection- on sale for $48. Unfortunately, there is no photo showing the inside.

Lucky Brand Laser Cut Clutch Wallet, $41.40 (originally $69) from 6pm.com...a site that is quickly becoming one of my favorite. 6pm is like zappos (they're actually the same company), but a little less expensive. They also have some pretty great weekly/daily deals.

I guess technically, this Kenya zip Clutch from Fossil is out of my price range at $55, but I think I'll let it slide.

This Key-Per Zip Clutch is also from Fossil and comes in a bunch of funky vintage prints...and is a "steal" (not quite, but still) at $40.

I decided to go with an open shot for this wallet because I just loved the inside so much. It's Fossil's Weekender Checkbook Clutch ($48) and it comes in about a gazillion colors!

First of all, thank you all for your kind words and encouragement on my recent post about Thibault. It means a lot to me that you took the time to not only read my post, but also to leave your feedback. Seriously ladies, you're amazing.

Building off of that, I've done a lot of thinking about relationships and what I need right now. As much as it pains me to say it, I think I need a break from boys for a little while. I know, that's big for me, and it's going to be hard! I need to focus on finding a job, getting settled in my new life and my own creative growth. I want to start cooking again, get out of my comfort zone, make new friends and explore my city.

I truly believe that you meet the best people when you're not looking- I mean come on, it is how Thibault and I met.

So, I guess we'll see how long this lasts. I'm definitely not giving myself a specific "no dating" period. I actually hate that idea. I think the point is that I have other things on my mind right now and they take precedence. 

Did anyone else go through this kind of thing after a big break up or even just after graduation?

• The Landlord's Daughter
• The Weird Girl who Takes Pictures of Herself
• The Girl who has a New Boy Over Every Week
• The Girl Who can't Park Correctly

Sadly, after today, I think it's possible that I might have acquired all of these titles. Let me explain.

The Landlord's Daughter:
Yes, my family owns the apartment building where I currently live. For a while, I only introduced myself as "Alana" to my neighbors and put no name on my mailbox. Then the mail man/lady left a note saying "no name, no mail," so that didn't last very long.

The Weird Girl who Takes Pictures of Herself:
This afternoon, a girl totally noticed me taking pictures of myself on the balcony. Though she didn't say anything, I know she must have looked. Seriously, she walked her dog past my balcony about a gazillion times!

The Girl who has a New Boy Over Every Week:
First, my friend Eric came to visit from Boston. We were seen coming home late and then drinking tea on the balcony together the next morning. Then, my friend Jon came to see the new place. And finally, Thibault stayed here for two weeks and I know the grandma lady who lives across the hall saw us together often.

The girl who can't park correctly:
For some reason I almost always park in this HUGE space in front of my building. It's not your typical rectangular parking space, it's more like a trapezoid. So really, however you park, it looks like you're doing something wrong. But, because my car is so so small, it makes my parking job look even worse.

Sigh. What's a fashion blogger who is friends with lots of boys, has a really small car and happens to be the landlord's daughter supposed to do?

I'm wearing:
Top: Loft
Belt: Primark
Jeans: Citizens of Humanity, found in a pile of neatly folded clothing in the trash room of my college apartment
Shoes: Old Navy
Headscarf: my childhood "dress-up clothes!"

First of all, have you noticed how well my plants are doing? I'm pretty proud of myself, well except for the fact that my Hydrangeas (which you can't see) are practically dead. Still, I'm pumped that the rest of my plants are doing well. In fact, I even used some of my herbs in tonight's dinner!
I've had these shoes for ages and still love them. I got them at Target on a whim from the sale shoe section at least 5 years ago! I particularly like the tiny bit of exposed toe-cleavage (ha!) and the ankle straps.
I feel like it looks like I'm about to be strip searched by a cop in this picture. I promise, no crimes were committed!
I'm wearing:
Top: New York and Co. (stolen from Sophie)
Belt: Primark
Skirt: French Connection via Loehmann's
Shoes: Target
Ring: c/o LuShae Jewelry

I'm not sure if you can tell from these photos, but I'm wearing a striped top with a dotted skirt. Well, the dots are sort of more like mini squares, but who cares.

It's all a part of my mixing genres phase. The colors of the top and skirt were so close to each other, I had to give it a try! 
I'm wearing:
Top: Forever 21
Belt: H&M
Skirt: Gap
Shoes: Madden Girl via ??
Headband: Random store in Israel

"What a man can be, he must be. This need we may call self-actualization…It refers to the desire for self-fulfillment, namely, to the tendency for him to become actualized in what he is potentially. This tendency might be phrased as the desire to become more and more what one is, to become everything that one is capable of becoming."

- Abraham Maslow

Self actualization is something every college student learns about in psych 101. It's at the top of Maslow's hierarchy of needs and is something we should strive to achieve.

I've come to realize that I definitely have not reached this stage, but that it may not be too far out of reach. According to Maslow, self actualized people are better problem solvers, are spontaneous, realistic and positive. I want to be all of those things!

I think that the first step in reaching this stage of self actualization is to be more accepting of myself. I know that I am very lucky to have a job, a roof over my head, a family that cares about me...sometimes I just need to remind myself how lucky I am to be me.

So yes, I did take a lipstick to my mirror, I admit it. Today, I just needed to be reminded that I am beautiful.

Here's to becoming self actualized, to not questioning every decision I ever make and to believing more in myself.

Dear Thibault Shmibo Shmibs,

I dropped you off at the airport and kissed you before saying goodbye and running back in my car. I truly. hate. goodbyes.

We knew it was going to happen sooner or later, in fact we didn't even know if we should continue this relationship- whether you should come visit me here or if we should just cut off contact all together. When you told me you wanted to come visit anyway, I was hesitant- how was I going to feel in 6 weeks; would I be working full time; did I want to have to deal with saying goodbye again?

So I immersed myself in my new life here- my apartment, my family, my job...

But the thing is, even though we're both headed in two very different directions (you back to Switzerland to join the army, become a pilot, get your PHD, maybe become an astronaut and me being totally confused about what I want in life) I'm so glad you came.

You've reminded me how it feels to let someone who isn't your parent take care of you. You reminded me how fun it is to follow a routine with someone- I get in the car, unlock your door, you hold my purse and hand me my sunglasses...

I loved how seamlessly you became a part of the family- you helped Donna build the Gazebo for my graduation party, you spied in DC with my mom, you won over my 4-year-old cousin's heart.

I guess I just wanted to say that you will forever be my first love. I still remember the first time I said I love you. I remember I felt the words swelling up inside of my chest. I felt like if I didn't say them, I was going to explode. As soon as those three words left my mouth, I was amazed by your response just seconds later- a simple "I love you too." It was perfect.

Thibault, you are the sweetest, kindest, most sincere and wonderful boy I know. I truly hope we stay close. I already miss you and you haven't even left the airport yet.

I can't wait to come visit you in Switzerland, I don't know when, but it will happen. You better keep the promise you made in the car today, that if you ever go into space I'll be invited to the launch. Hey, even if it's years from now, you'll still be able to recognize me- I'll be the girl in the 4-inch heels cheering your name and telling everyone around me how great you are.

Thank you for everything.

Love always,

Alana

To be honest, I wasn't really quite sure what to wear to my company picnic. Because it was a picnic/pool party/extravaganza, I knew I wanted to wear a bathing suit under whatever I ended up choosing. But, I also knew I couldn't wear anything too skimpy (aka beach clothes) as I'd be hanging with coworkers. There are some things the people you work with just don't need to see. (Plus, after the dog fiasco, I wasn't taking any chances.)

Thibault and I arrived early and helped fill up water balloons. I think we filled one up for every five we accidentally popped. After a while, I told Thibault he could only curse in French, as there were children around. French cursing is so funny!

We sort of pregamed the picnic with bagels from the Quarry. Please, don't act so surprised, it's me we're talking about here. Oh, and Thibault is now totally a bagel lover. My work here is done!

Meet Inga, one of my coworkers. She's super cute, has a shoe addiction (just like me) and LOVES eating crabs.

Now, I don't actually eat any type of seafood, but I did enjoy watching everyone else eating crabs. They're like a snack and a game. Cool!

Blame my 13 years of Jewish Day School education, but I just don't eat crabs. Look at that guy's eyes! You sort of have to like crabs if you're from Baltimore.

Thibault is wearing a child-sized cowboy hat that we later gave to my cousin Alec. Alec, the boy who can usually be seen sporting toenail polish, told us that this hat "was for girls." I think it's because Thibault has become his man idol. Seriously, he loves him. It's adorable.

I'm wearing:
Kaftan: SiBelle by Sibel Mesta (from Daily Candy contest)
Belt: Primark
Shoes: New York and Co.
Hat: Eugenia Kim for Target
Bathing suit: Loehmann's. You can't see it, but I promise it's cute!