Rainy Day Essentials

Today is one of those days that when you're you back in your room after class, you take off your raincoat, shake it off, take off the scarf, the boots, the coat under the raincoat... and your pants. No surface goes un-drenched. Northwest rain is persistent. For days like today, I pretty much wear a rainy day uniform. Sorry, I don't have a picture of my outfit for today, my camera is like a kitty: no baths. But here are some go to items for a girl living in the Pacific Northwest, or any other soaking wet climate:

Rainy Day Essentials by Lakin McCarthy featuring hunter shoes

General OSU style is sporty and practical with expressive accessorizing. Some of my favorite trends I've seen are:


Hunter Wellies- They're a classic! Although they have a triple digit price tag, I find them to be a worthy investment considering the amount of rain we get here. I love not having to think about puddles. Or jumping in them. 


North Face coats- I have the Venture jacket in Weimaraner brown. The color is beautifully vivid. It repels moisture as needed, but you have to remember to shake it off before going into class. There are three things that sold me on this jacket, 1) the price is affordable, 2) it comes in a ton of colors, 3) it's lightweight, perfect for layering! And nothing is worse than sweating in your jacket on a rainy day. 


Bubble umbrellas- Most Oregonians are too proud to carry an umbrella, and often I am among them. But recently I have been lusting after this one, as I see a few on campus. I want to do a photo shoot with one! 


Knit headbands- So cute! You can make them yourself, buy locally, or find one for cheap at stores like Forever 21. They are a simple accessory that adds a little style and a little warmth to a rainy day. 


Pashmina scarves- Perhaps in an earlier post you saw my scarf from Morocco. I practically live in that thing. I always wear a scarf on rainy days. A scarf is stylish, personal, and helps deter sickness by staying warm. A triple win.
I also love infinity scarves.  


Warm socks- Always wear warm socks with boots. Your feet will thank you. 


What's your must have for a day of downpour? Leave a comment! 


I hope you all are surviving the rain! And those of you in warm climates: you are smart.  

Reading for A Style Metamorphasis

This may seem somewhat obvious, but simply put: looking great is not all about fashion. It's about style. I absolutely adore these three books, I pick them up regularly because they never cease to inspire me. All three are highly visual, which I love. They are as follows: 

The Science of Sexy, By Bradley Bayou

This book tells you how to dress your body type. There is a chart that is organized by height and weight, then you find your color and silhouette and it tells you what will flatter your figure. I love it! It's a no nonsense guide to dressing to flatter. Definitely pick this one up. 

Color Me Beautiful, By Carole Jackson

I found this one going through my mom's bookshelf. It doesn't look like much, but it's helped me immensely! When I used to shop, I would buy things because I thought the color was beautiful, not because it flattered me. Reading this book, I discovered that I am in fact "a summer" and it has helped me refine the color palette of my wardrobe and what I am drawn to in stores. The benefit? Everything matches! 

You Know You Want It, By Eric Daman

This book is beautiful. If you've ever watched Gossip Girl, I bet you've worshipped the clothes too. I received $14 in overdue fines from the library for keeping this book too long, finally, I just bought it. This book is great for visualizing how to creatively put outfits together. It has beautiful illustrations and is truly inspiring. 


Read any of these books? What did you think? Leave a comment!

Happy reading! And Happy Valentine's Day. <3 

Rich & Sassy

When: February 12, 2011


What:
Sweater: Gap
Scarf: a gift from Morocco
Jeans: Levi's
Boots: Target
Bag: Coach
Earrings: Anne Bocci Boutique

Where: Date night with Paul


Why: I didn't bring many clothes home for the weekend, so I threw together something comfortable yet still special. I feel like a total Oregonian in these boots! Paul and I ended up going to Famous Dave's, and let me tell you, that was a trip. The place is baby central. There are people feeding their children coleslaw which the children proceed to spit out onto the table. Other children are walking and eating corn simultaneously. It was a germaphobe's nightmare. Somehow, I expected more from a BBQ joint, but Paul kindly reminded me that that's a bit naive. It was also naive to wear white to a BBQ place. Later, we came back to my house and I goaded the reluctant Paul into playing Battleship, which he enjoyed. Win.


(PS: "Rich & Sassy" is Famous Dave's "go to sauce." Ha ha, I approve.)

Welcome to the Home of the Beavers

Just thought I should introduce you to the place I call home: Oregon State University. 

The Memorial Union from the outside. 

 Weatherford Hall

 The Valley Library and the first leaves of spring! 

The inside of the Memorial Union.

I'm a Oregon girl at heart and I couldn't have made a better choice in a school. I'm so proud to live in the northwest. As a school, OSU is progressive but still upholds valuable traditions. We're about an hour from the beach, an hour and a half from Portland, and an hour from Eugene. Although it's kind of a small agricultural town, I like to think of it as a little oasis out in Oregon country. Get ready to see more of campus. This is where I live. Oh, and we all wear flannel everyday, ride horses to class and are still trying to deal with those incorrigible Indians. Go figure.