Erika S. outfits

Wannabe French Cool Girl

I have a super fashion crush on French girls (women) such as Emmanuelle Alt, Lou Doillon and Capucine Safyurtlu.  Their look is functional, sleek, irreverent, and a bit bad ass.  They are also blazer people, meaning a blazer is as natural on them as a pair of jeans. I am not a blazer person.  A quick Google image search for “5 piece french wardrobe” will bring up all the cliche frenchie pieces – a striped shirt, jeans, blazers, boots.  All the things I chose for my wannabe french cool girl outfit.  I wish I were a cool french girl.  I guess I’ll just have to settle for being a poseur.
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Frenchies

glasses: warby parker – blazer and top: madewell – cardigan: uniqlo – belt: gap –  jeans: j.brand via nordstrom rack – boots: cole haan via nordstrom rack

Erika S. outfits

The October Slump

We’re well into the famed October slump,  the one where teachers look tired, worn out and defeated because they are tired, feeling defeated and worn down.  In the words of Jim Furman (colleague from last year), it looked like we teachers were “on the good ship lollipop” at the start of the year, but now we’re all frowns.

I’m happy to report that this has been one of the mildest slumps I’ve had in 7 years.  I’ve had a few hiccups here and there with a few bad days, but all in all, things are awesome this year.  Not only, that, I feel like I have a better work/life this year which is HUGE for me.  That alone keeps the angry/bitter/jaded monster at bay.  Achievement #1 for the year unlocked!  Now I need to work on actually doing more cool things with that time.

These photos are from a week ago, right before the weather here in Denver turned frigid.  Anything below 60˚ is frigid to me.  Everything is old, loved, and from Madewell.

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Erika S. outfits

Rossin Fuzzies

Rossin had on a collar today that I just couldn’t stop staring at during our grade team meeting today.  I just wanted to reach out and stroke it.  So I did just that on our way out and asked, “Is that real?!?!”  She was the perfect image of fall – a hint of summer and a hint of winter.  I felt envious as I looked down at my boring outfit for the day, but made some mental notes of how to start my transition into autumn (berry lipstick!).

As I hurriedly snapped some pictures of Rossin at the end of the school day, a few of our students just couldn’t help themselves and jumped in the shot with her. Sorry for the bad photoshopping, but my skillz are limited.

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furries

Erika S. outfits

Mucking Around

The other day, a kid in my first period asked me what crawled up my ass and died.  Yup.  I had gotten tired of his and his friends mucking around (Aussie speak, thanks to B) during class and employed multiple non-verbal “100% engagement strategies” on them all at once.  I stood right next their chairs.  I tapped on the worksheets they were supposed to be paying attention to.  I mimed putting a cell phone away and taking head phones out (teenagers are a cleaver bunch when it comes to illicit technology use in the classroom).  I made eye contact and scanned their work area.  Then finally, I crouched down to their level and asked if they needed help getting started.  “Miss, what crawled up you ass and died today?”  LOLZ.  I chuckled and said something along the lines of “your lack of work”.  Was that appropriate?  Who cares?  The kid who said it got started and got his work done eventually.

Today I wore a new linen button down from Madewell (super sale!).  White shirts are basic, classic and creates an instant “professional” look.  This one in particular is awesome because it’s long enough to cover my entire torso.  Also, I can wear this shirt till I’m old and fabulous as it’s not too teenager-y like other things I have.  Linen is pretty much permanently wrinkled, so it fits my non-ironing life style.  When B’s mum was in town, she actually helped me iron a couple shirts (#winning).  I’m saving those shirts for a special occasion now.

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madewell white linen

glasses: warby parker – shirt: madewell – belt: urban outfitters – jeans: j.brand via nordstrom rack – boots: steve madden

Erika S. outfits

Grown-ass Woman

I have finally reached adulthood, people.  I bought a house here in Denver – last May.  This is not news to people who know me (I can’t ever stop talking about it), but it is news to the blog.  Yup, B and I are now officially adults with adult type responsibilities such as mowing the lawn and making mortgage payments.  This also means that my conscience gets a whirl every day – B and I are gentrifiers.  Seriously, we are – Slate Magazine confirms it.  This means that I am one of those people who drive out economic and cultural diversity from “up and coming” neighborhoods because it’s the new hip area to move into.  And boy is it hip.  There are about 6 awesome micro-breweries within walking distance, and we regularly hear gun shots in the night.  Recognizing that I am a gentrifier puts me in a tizzy, since my hometown is experiencing all kinds of turmoil with gentrification and the homogenizing of culture.  Hell, even B and I have been priced out of SF considering we could never afford to buy in the city.  So I try my best to remember this article on how not to be a gentrifier.  

Now that I am an adult with adult responsibilities, I felt the need to dress like a child today.  This is a new top from Anthropologie (super sale, as always) with a very child-like collar.  I dig it, Alexa Chung style.  The lipstick, by the way, is a cheap find from Wet n’ Wild (Plumegenue, by the Fergie collection) and I highly recommend it.

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grownchild

top: anthroplogie – belt: gap – jeans: uniqlo – boots: franco sarto via nordstrom rack – watch: fossil

Erika S. outfits

Peek a Boo

Summer is winding down and we’re just starting to get some autumn like weather here in Denver.  I figured the time was right to take out this summer dress I picked up at Madewell (on super sale as always) while in New York.  It’s a bit risque for work, with cut outs on the sides.  So I kept my cardigan on all day while at school to cover up all the torso bits.  I even kept it on through the “I’m now sweating profusely because all of a sudden my admin/evaluator just walked in to hang out” moments of the day.  Bonus: the dress has huge pockets!

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glasses: warby parker – cardigan: uniqlo – dress: madewell – shoes: saltwater sandals

Erika S. outfits, teaching

Back to School Night

We had back to school night the second week of school and I’m only now getting around to posting about it.  I’ve always struggled with BTS nights.  I always end the night feeling like I put my foot in my mouth a couple times.  Meeting parents for the first time always shakes my confidence a bit.  I’m a bit socially awkward around adults anyway, so meeting a bunch all at once is hard.  I always feel like I’m under scrutiny and that I’m being sized up.  Of course, this all stems from my own insecurities – I can hardly blame parents for wanting the best teachers for their kids.  I also shot myself in the foot this year by not taking the extra time needed to prepare a “Hi, I’m your kid’s Bio teacher this year, here’s some info about my background!” type presentation.  If I had, I probably would have had a more successful night.

Anyways, I chose to wear heels for BTS night this year.  It was a 13 hour day, and my feet were 100% comfortable as I walked my tired body and mind to my car at 8pm.  Midi skirts just always look better with some extra leg length.

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BTS night

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glasses: warby parker – top: uniqlo – belt: jcrew – skirt: anthropologie – shoes: sweedish hasbeens for h&m

Erika S. outfits

Buttoned Up

4 years ago, I had a student named Aaron in my Anatomy/Physiology class that had mad swag.  His wardrobe didn’t change all that often, but man, that kid had (probably still has) some serious style.  He always looked mature, fly, and chic all at the same time.  It took me all year, but I finally put my finger on why he had such swag: He always buttoned his shirts up to the top button.  It looked great, in a slightly nerdy, chic kind of way.  After that year, I started doing the same.  I button it all the way up.  I borrowed some of his swag, and I still like the look, 4 years later.

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glasses: warby parker – top: h&m (super old) – jeans: f21 – belt – gap – shoes: swedish hasbeens

Erika S. outfits

Varsity

I went shopping over the weekend and treated myself to some much needed retail therapy.  It’s been a while (for me at least) since I’ve updated my wardrobe.  B shops maybe once a year, but I’m not that disciplined.  So I went and made the rounds at the local mall and picked up a few things.  First up, this t-shirt which I now call my varsity shirt.  I never played sports in high school, unless you count sailing in the Sea Scouts.  I did try girl’s soccer a couple times, but I was just pathetically bad at it.

Funny story, I ended up matching a little bit with a kid in my class today.  She had on the same shirt, but in maroon.  I pointed it out and she just half-smiled at me.  I guess she didn’t think it was as cool to match as I thought.  Lolz.  It happens.  varsity3

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varsity

top: f21 – skirt: jcrew – shoes: worishofer – necklace: my mom’s

On the beauty side, I picked up a new lip tint from Sephora.  It’a a Korean brand called Chosungah 22 and it’s pretty awesome.  The stain lasts a while, even with my habit of constantly licking my lips.  I like it more than Benetint and the Face Shop brand tint.  The gloss half though is gloopy and sticky – I’m not a fan.