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Trying to dress like that. Listening to them. 

It's a "warm" rainy day; having some left over stir-fry and waiting to head over to the airport to pick up my sister for the holiday week ahead.

keep it spooky ~ halloween 2014

I haven't done a Halloween playlist in two years (!!). This one is a little more "Halloween party" friendly. I grabbed some songs from my favorite bands that I think are a little spooky and paired it with a still from one of my favorite spooky movies, Donnie Darko.

>>Keep it spooky ~ Halloween '14<<

1. The Killing Moon, Echo and The Bunnymen, Songs to Learn and Sing
2. Came Back Haunted, Nine Inch Nails, Hesitation Marks

3. Vamp, Trentemøller, The Last Resort

4. Bloodletting (The Vampire Song), Concrete Blonde, Bloodletting

5. Lullaby, The Cure, Disintegration

6. Silent Shout, The Knife, Silent Shout

7. I Want You Now, Depeche Mode, Music For the Masses
8. Evil Eye, Franz Ferdinand, Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action

*Bonus: The X-Files theme song

five fall favorites

I love lists. I love the fall. Every season I have a few things in mind that are always on constant rotation be it an article of clothing, a beauty product or even something more abstract.

1. burgundy sweater



I stopped into my local thrift shop for the first time in months and came out with burgundy, 100% wool sweater with a perfect neckline for $6. In preparation for this next Chi-beria, I'm getting cozy in my new sweater.

2. Mixed earrings



I've been Googling photos of Rosamund Pike lately and I've noticed her love for a safety pin earring. So of course I jumped right out of bed and sanitized a perfectly sized safety pin and stick it through my ear. And while I was at it, added some mixed elements as well: diamond and pearl.

3. Lauren Hutton inspired hair



I recently chopped my hair off into the long bob and I keep going back to pictures of Lauren Hutton (my ultimate style icon) for hair inspiration. If only I had that tan, though.

4. brown scarf



My sister who lives in Nashville sent me a surprise box with this surprise scarf perfect for transitioning into fall and channeling an Olsen.

5. Jamie Cullum's Momentum

Every fall and winter, I go back to Jamie Cullum for all of my warm and jazzy needs. His most recent album Momentum is a current favorite. Check out tracks The Same Things, When I Get Famous and Love for $ale.

Also, check out Raise, a convenient place to buy and sell gift cards (for the some mix matched earrings, wool sweaters, and Jamie Cullum's discography) for discounted prices. It's good to get a heard start on holiday gifts, ya know. Raise is Chicago-based, so bonus points for that!

films to watch during the fall season

The Craft (1996)                                                                                            The Crucible (1996)

Dead Poets Society (1989)                                                                                Halloweentown (1998)

                Halloweentown 2: Kalabar's Revenge (2001)                                                                     Hocus Pocus (1993)

                             The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)                                                                   Stepmom (1998)

The Village (2004)                                                                         When Harry Met Sally... (1989)

One of my favorite things to do (in general) is watch movies in the fall. Especially horror movies or movies set during the season. I've been compiling lists over the summer about what movies to watch during the four seasons and this is what I've come up with so far for autumn. Also, I don't really know why the majority of these films were released within 10 years of each other (1989 to 1999). I don't know what it is about fall-ish/Halloween type films in the 90s.

1. The Craft

What is a fall movie list without witches? The Craft has all of your goth-girl outfit inspiration for the beginning of the season. Also the 90s "are back" so use this film for general inspiration for the season if you're into that.

2. The Crucible

I don't know if it's the witch thing again, or the fact that Daniel Day-Lewis puts every modern man to shame with his costume + hair + beard in The Crucible or even Winona's hair and wild child attitude but this movie is always a fall favorite.

3. Dead Poets Society

Some real back to school outfit inspiration courtesy of Robert Sean Leonard and (baby) Ethan Hawke. I'm not just putting this on the list because of the late Robin Williams (this is one of his best films, however), but Dead Poets Society is here to remind people that reading from a physical book is the best and that you should probably invest in a university boy's blazer or something. Oh, and to always follow your true dreams or whatever.

4. Halloweentown

Now for the nostalgia. Who doesn't remember watching Halloweentown every Halloween on Disney Channel? I have the best memories of this: getting my costume together, eating Mom's homemade chili with Halloweentown on in the background. Oh the optimism of trick-or-treating as me and my sister got our faces painted for the night. This movie brings it all back.

5. Halloweentown 2: Kalabar's Revenge

I am personally a fan of Kalabar's Revenge. I don't know why; maybe it's because I was a little older when I watched this one or if it's because of the movie's quest to get back Halloween in Halloweentown that made Halloween feel extra special. Or maybe it's because I just really wanted Marni's outfit.

6. Hocus Pocus

I really don't think I need to explain this one. Just watch the trailer or even better go find the movie on the Internet somewhere if you haven't seen it. From the location, the outfits on Bette Midler and her sisters and Max's love interest Allison, you'll find something to love here.

7. The Rocky Horror Picture Show

This is so hypocritical of me but I have not yet seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I am putting it on this list to remind me that I really need to watch it. Like really.

8. Stepmom

This movie will make you cry very hard so if you're not in the mood for that, don't watch this. Do, however, watch at least some of it for the wonderful couple of scenes that take place during autumn. Lots of leaves and oversized 90s clothing choices. The winter scenes are also really good.

9. The Village

Possibly the only actual scary film that is set during the fall. The Village is quite underrated, possibly because of its obvious flaws but it really isn't a bad film. There's a good plot twist and handful of really good actors (Adrien Brody, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jesse Eisenberg, Sigourney Weaver, William Hurt and Joaquin Phoenix).

10. When Harry Met Sally...

OH this just might be my favorite romantic comedy of all time. It's definitely up there on my favorite movies list, though. Majority of the movie is set during the late summer/fall/winter months (I'd say late August to December) which is PERFECT for outfit inspiration (cinematic style coming soon).

if dave gahan...

It sounds cheesy but this fall I am repeating two mantras in my head: one made up (If Dave Gahan can make it through the 90s, I can make it through the semester), and one over used (keep calm and carry on).

I'm having some personal issues so my fall playlist is all about soothing sounds to listen to in the background as I try to keep up with work and school. And my fall wardrobe is all about being comfortable. I'm going back to my true favorites: sweaters, over sized blazers, huge scarves, comfy pants, black, gray and some white. I'm all about easiness and simplicity this season.






Key Words: layers, comfort, easy, dark, cozy, sweater

Muses: Mary-Kate Olsen, Ashley Olsen, Emmanuelle Alt, Liv Tyler, Kate Moss

Color Palette: black, dark gray, heather gray, gold, white, more gray

Beauty: long bob, Stylenomics by Essie, Bahama Mama by Essie

Miscellaneous:

The Tube: The Fall season 2 (early October)

The Big Screen: Interstellar (07 November), Nightcrawler (17 October), Gone Girl (03 October), The Theory of Everything (07 November)

Jams: Kasabian (concert on 01 October), Chromeo (concert on 17 October), my fall playlist

>> If Dave Gahan... <<

1. Journey Inwards, LTJ Bukem, Journey Inwards

2. Garlands, Cocteau Twins, Garlands

3. A Forest, The Cure, Seventeen Seconds

4. Lazy Calm, Cocteau Twins, Victorialand

5. Prelude, Foals, Holy Fire
6. Deep Into The Night, Ali Love, Deep Into The Night
7. Sunset (Jamie XX Edit), The XX, Jamie XX Edits

8. Easy To Remember, St. Germain, From Detroit to St. Germain