inspired by the stage.

We mentioned last week that we were lucky enough to catch a local production of The Merchant of Venice on stage at our awesome local theater, Trinity Rep.

The show was absolutely incredible -- and that's coming from a couple of everyday girls that did not read the cliff notes beforehand. Since I have a hard time leaving a voicemail without stuttering or mispronouncing my own name, I am always impressed at these inspiring actors that can recite such beautiful monologues with emotion (and without stumbling).

The actors were so amazing - and the play so entertaining - that the beautiful costumes were totally an added eye candy bonus. Jane was so inspired she decided to take her inspiration for our everyday wear from the stage. While wearing an actual Shakespearean costume might not be your pick for your Wednesday work outfit, it is possible to integrate hints of such beautiful costumes. A chain here, black velvet here, high boots there -- piece it together to create your own look, inspired by the stage!

jen wears ::: weekend wear

If you can somehow manage it, I highly recommend finding a sister-in-law with a magical, adorable cabin in the mountains where you can spend cozy autumn weekends by the fireplace, alternating napping with eating.


I know that I've confessed my current love of black leggings a few times already, but they saved me again this comfortable + cozy weekend. Throw in my favorite blue houndstooth over sized scarf and I felt comfortable and adorable. A total success for weekends usually spent in slouchy old sweatpants.

thrift tip ::: embrace the flannel

Now that autumn is finally here in New England (with colder weather on the way) .... I've been making it a priority to get cozier and cozier. Beside stocking up on thermal pj pants and slippers, I've been falling in love with flannel.

In nearly every thrift store, there are racks and racks of abandoned, lonely, cozy flannel button ups. Once worn by old men with recliners and tube socks, these often overlooked gems are absolutely perfect for the fashionably cozy cold-weather lady.

Just pair them with a fitted white v-neck and leggings, and if you're super fashionable (like me), a pair of big ol' cozy fuzzy socks. Also looks good with fireplaces, bowls of homemade soup and mittens.

If you're feeling overwhelmed -- don't worry, we have a couple of helpful tips so you don't panic when you're knee deep in plaid on your next thrifting excursion.


(I'm healthily obsessed with my new mug, for good reason. give me my flannel and a box of sleepytime tea and I'm good for a week.)

being interviewed.

This week the blouse team was interviewed by the amazing woman behind Sexy Period, a new line of sexy, fashionable, leak resistant underwear for that time of the month. We're pumped for our video(!) interview and to be their very first Sexy Gals of the Moment. We absolutely loved meeting with Julie -- the most amazing, impressive and down to earth chemical engineer turned entrepreneur we've ever met!


After the interview - and a few quick outfit pics - we may have caught someone vandalizing sharing the everyday girl love! We have no. idea. who. this. person. is.

But if I did know this woman - I may tell her thanks. And that I like her dress. And that I forgot my coffee mug at her house and I'll get it next week.

If I knew her.

what we wore.

This past Monday was my definitely my kind of "the monday blues." Jane and I had a super busy + super successful day of prepping for our StyleWeek Providence coverage.

We had the opportunity to meet with two of the featured designers -- these interviews (plus behind the scene photos!) will be posted on the blog soon ...

And while we were out + about doing our fancy interview thing -- we snapped a couple self photos in Boston. Jane got all snazzy with her great hat + red shorts and I borrowed some shoppe inventory.

celebrating the cocktail.

True to my natural procrastinating abilities -- I managed to catch the very last day (did I mention I was a procrastinator?) of a local museum exhibit -- Cocktail Culture. Although I was initially shocked that I wasn't handed a cold martini immediately upon entering the exhibit room, I did end up absolutely loving the entire thing. Stone sober. (did I mention I wasn't handed a martini?)

The exhibit was organized by decade - and walking through the flappers of the 1920s to the gloved ladies of the 1950s to the sexpots of the 1970s made me really want a martini made me want to throw my own little fancy cocktail party.


When that fancy little blouse cocktail party does happen - I will be sure to bring this perfectly vintage fancy black bag that I recently received from a very loved great aunt. I thought going to a fancy little museum exhibit was reason enough to stop hoarding it and pull it out of the closet .... and being a warm weekday afternoon, I paired with a casual striped dress and pair of sandals.

Adding a fancy bag to that everyday dress is a perfect way to feel extra special. (add in that martini, and bam -- you're going to feel doubly special.)

(photos courtesy of my trusty photog friend shauna, who is patient enough to
photograph a photographer who does not enjoy being on this side of the camera.
i only yelled directions at her like, four times. okay maybe five.)

going both ways.

A few days ago I had a busy day at work, doing important work-like things like attending meetings and pretending to be answering urgent emails while actually playing Words with Friends on my phone. After work -- I had a busy date night, doing things like picking up some local, free range eggs at a country farm and going out to dinner for buckets of fried seafood.

I decided to try to pull it all off with one skirt.


For the day - I wore a black blazer with the sleeves rolled up (aka: my getting down to business business look), a black tank and gold jewelry with the skirt. Along with my gold oxfords and my brown leather bag - I went for a business casual feel ... trying to portray the message, "I'm creative and fun, yet my organized flow charts will blow. you. away."


And for the night - I wanted a cool and summery casual look. So, I left the blazer crumpled up in the backseat and threw on a sheer short sleeve top, some bright earrings and a pair of flirty black vintage heels. Then, I flirted with a little hottie at the farm.


The skirt felt great all day/night long ... it was warm enough in the air conditioned office and cool enough under the warm evening sun. And the elastic waist? Did I mention the buckets of seafood? Enough said.


And the best part?? The skirt is for sale in the shoppe! (but sorry ... adorable baby goat is not included)

a pottery barn easter.

I finally uploaded the few pictures I took on Easter -- although I don't traditionally celebrate the day -- this year was very exciting because I was able to wear my new vintage polka dress and spend three days eating ham.

It was a pottery barn easter because we were invited to a little dinner by a couple that make you feel like you're spending the holiday on a page of the pottery barn catalog. Matching silverware, handmade flower arrangements, perfect looking ham -- it was a dream.

blouse wears, take two.

Some of you might have seen the first edition of blouse wears - but Jane + I thought it would be fun to start a little project where we share what we wear -- and, how each of wears it. Introducing -- the second edition(!) of blouse wears: the striped shirt.

Stripes! Here at blouse -- stripes are totally in this spring. Jane and I each wore one of our favorite striped shirts (that's right, there's more!) to show how we each wear stripes.


Jane's adorable short sleeved teal + white vintage top got all dressed up with a tight black mini skirt, white tights and black ankle boots. I'm loving the vertical and the horizontal stripes on her blouse.

I'm wearing an oversized 80s striped sweatshirt that I paired with floral tights and a super soft denim skirt.

I feel like stripes have always had a lot of rules around them -- don't wear horizontal, only wear skinny stripes, blah, blah, blah. Ignore the rules. Embrace stripes: the new polka dot.

a day outside.

While I promise, I'm not hiding 43 cats in my linen closet, I have to admit - I am a bit of a hoarder. It's more like the "I want to keep this gift card, unused, forever, in my wallet" type of hoarder. Or the "I want to keep these boots in my closet, unworn, in perfect, unworn-condition, forever" type of hoarder.

Ok, maybe I'm just your average, everyday hoarder. But don't you own anything that feels so special - it's hard to even pull it out of the closet and wear it in the chance that something happens to it? I'm sure you do ... right? I mean, isn't there a little hoarder in all of us?


What I wore for a brisk, cold spring day:

boots - thrifted
dress - thrifted
vest - a gift
scarf - thrifted
leg warmers - a gift