For the love of Kristina (fashion post #5)

You may have thought personal fashion blogging was a thing of the past on Fawn Log. The truth is, avid Fawn Loggers like Kristina were just waiting for the exact right time to unleash their fashion photos. Today, March 1st, is that day.

Kristina is planning on going to school for architecture. She was a double major in art and art history in college, and is running the Boston marathon for charity next month (she’s promised to write a post about that in the coming weeks, so stay tuned). Kristina is also a huge fan of popcorn for dinner, pilots of all ages, and Project Runway. Without further ado, let’s hear about her unique fashion challenge and see what she wore! (italics= Kristina)

Back in November, I went to New York for five days to visit grad schools and friends. I left Thursday from work and came back to work for a half day the following Tuesday. I stayed at different apartments almost every night and had to carry everything I brought everywhere I went every day, so I attempted to pack lightly and compactly. I was also marathon training and had to bring running clothes, and I had to look presentable for school visits. It was a challenge. I brought: two pairs of pants, one sweater, one cardigan, one blazer, two shirts to wear under these, one scarf, and one running outfit that I had to wear three times (sorry, hosts). Also three pairs of shoes. I really think my biggest accomplishment was fitting all the shoes in my two tiny bags. Needless to say, I wore everything a lot of times.

1. This is a self-portrait in the office bathroom. I tried to make it look artistic but the iPhone in my face sort of ruins it. This was my bus-traveling outfit on Thursday. I wore actual work pants during the day that I left in the office for the weekend, and then changed into when I came back on Tuesday.

2. This is everything I brought. This also included a copy of my portfolio, which had to stay flat and well-protected.

3. This was my Friday outfit, and how I looked when I arrived at Jhanna’s house on Friday night (after seeing two schools).

4. Without my coat and bags.

5. This is me and Josh’s dog.

6. This is a bonus fashion picture of Jhanna.

7. Saturday morning I got bagels with Jhanna and Shannon. This is all of us with our coats on.

8. This is all of us with our coats off.

9. This is a detail. We are all wearing triangles and/or other geometry!

10. These are the running clothes that I wore on two runs and to one spinning class. Actually, I brought warm pants and it was 50 degrees out so these shorts actually belong to my most recent roommate named Emma, the one after Fawn Log Emma.

11. This is Sunday, dressed for a walk in the park.

12. This is Monday, on the Highline, between hanging out with Roommate Emma #3 (because there was one before Fawn Log Emma too) and going to my last school visit. I switched shoes before the school visit, don’t worry.

13. This is what I wore on the bus ride back to Boston. When I got to work I put the work pants I had left at my desk back on, and then when I got back to my apartment I changed back to the jeans to stage this picture.

*****

Suffice it to say, I am extremely impressed with Kristina’s packing utility and her ability to mix and match pieces to create new outfits. In fact, I looked through these photos before reading Kristina’s description and had no idea how few items of clothing she was working with before seeing her disclaimer. Very, very impressive!

One thing I immediately noticed after reading her disclaimer is the fact that she really followed the advice that fashion magazines always give about staying in the same “color family” when packing for a long weekend. For instance, the bright blue jeans and bright blue sweater [which first appear in photos #1 and #3, respectively] are, in my estimation, the exact same color. I don’t think I ever would have chosen to pack those two things (you couldn’t wear them together or it would look like some weird, bright blue tuxedo) but, dang, it really, really works! Because two of Kristina’s staple pieces are the same bright blue, she can seamlessly switch accessories (like that floral scarf, which I am coveting, btw) between outfits without worrying about clashing. Genius!

Just in case you’re not yet impressed with Kristina’s efficient packing and dressing, let me just point out that, beyond bright blue and the floral scarf, the only colors that Kristina is wearing are black, grey, and navy. For those keeping track, that is 4 colors total (bright blue, navy, black, and grey)! Or, even more mind blowing, just two hues (blue and black)!  In theory that sounds boring, but Kristina proves that fashion mags are on to something when they recommend this way of packing and dressing. Revolutionary!

Additional thoughts:

• Thank you for the bonus Jhanna and Shannon fashion, Kristina! I really love everyone’s geometric shirts in #8 and #9
• That black blazer fits you really well and really makes me feel like I should wear my work blazers with casual outfits more often.
• Before reading that you switched shoes before your interview in picture #12, I noticed the Converse and thought about how cool it is that architecture is a field that sits at some sort of intersection between professionalism and art, a field where blazers and Converse make sense together. So I was disappointed to see that you had changed shoes. If Converse + blazers  is not yet a thing among architects everywhere, I nominate you to start the trend when you become one.
• Colored denim. It looks real good on ya’.

THANK YOU FOR SUBMITTING YOUR FASHION, KRISTINA!!!