Cossack Hat Season

Julie Christie behind the scenes of Doctor Zhivago (1965) 

by Maria 

I'm no hat person. I'd restrain with a messy bun before I'd cover with a baseball cap.  My hair could keep a small village warm without the help of your beanies and berets. Keep your earmuffs. Furthermore,  my multifunctional mane lends itself to my aversion to over-accessorizing. I've never met a wide-brimmed fedora I didn't remove before arriving at the intended destination, because it was just too much

She naively thought to herself, as the polar vortex of anguish and gloom swirled somewhere in the not-so-far-off distance, unbeknownst to our hatless wonder. 

Yes, this season I am proactively investing ("investing") in a faux fur cossack hat. It will accompany the periwinkle hand-me-down that became the star of my Cold War spy Halloween costume all the way back in 2011, when I was living in New Orleans and knew nothing of parkas. I invite you all to join me in this luxurious preemptive strike. 

New York Fashion Week AW 2013...Sung Hee Kim | Vanessa Jackman 

Paris Fashion Week AW 2014...Eva | Vanessa Jackman

The above look is one I intend to replicate a hundred times over as I narrowly avoid cabin fever in the mountains of New Mexico with my boyfriend and my senior thesis side-piece. Festive pajama sets. Stans. The gang's all here. 

Saoirse Ronan in Hanna (2011)

Both Topshop and Asos have several reasonably-priced variations on the theme. Grab winter by the balls for under $50. 

I'll bring the vodka. 

Are Bootcut Jeans the Real Mom Jeans? and Other Burning Questions

by Maria

On a Thursday in November I wondered

The term basic has comfortably eased its way into our vernacular. While the archetypal basic is easier to identify than, say, the hipster of years passed, some undeniably gray areas remain. But for simplicity's sake, let's define the basic as one who unapologetically subscribes to mainstream trends and culture. 

Now, enter normcore. This term, while less ubiquitous, is a bit easier to pin down. Its early proponents claimed to dress in a way that was accessible, not overly fashionable, and did not stand out. Normcore was regarded as backlash to the millennial brand of narcissism and individuality. This mission statement says nothing of a particular look, but term has become synonymous with 90s high-waisted "mom" jeans, white turtlenecks & sneakers, and anything else the cast of Seinfeld would deem wearable in its heyday. As overalls and denim-on-demin are now favorites among the trendiest streetstyle stars, subscription to this trend (subculture? movement?) would hardly mean that you'd blend.  If that were the case, we wouldn't need the normcore/basic distinction in the first place. 

Normcore can realistically be defined as an appropriation of the most dressed-down mainstream trends of the early 1990s. But that same aesthetic continues to creep its way into mainstream culture, or in mainstream fashion circles at the very least. After all, when was the last time you saw a suburban mom actually wearing mom jeans? We're going to assume in the meantime you've seen a light-wash pair on sale at Urban Outfitters, or on that one sorority sister regarded to be a little more offbeat than the rest. So what do overworked moms of two under three really wear? 

Bootcut jeans. 

As the 90s-- mom jeans included-- become solidified in mainstream style, should we look to the early-mid 2000s for inspiration? And who gets to claim cozy sweaters? 

I am left with more questions than answers. 

The Origin of the Man Bun

by Cori

Let’s talk about something really controversial—or rather not controversial at all, but just something that women (it’s not just me, right?) these days are fawning over: the elusive “Man Bun.”

Where did we first see it? Who decided it was chic? Was it Kate Moss? Does this mean I’m a lesbian? Clearly, there has been a lot of circulation over the hairstyle, so I took to my journalism skills, or lack there of, to get the full story behind the first man bun.

For those of you who don’t know what a man bun is, and I’m so embarrassed for you right now, Urban Dictionary defines it as “when a man has a bun.” Take that how you will. This was defined in October of 2010, but the origin of the man bun is way before that.

The originator of the man bun (and you won't see this in any of your textbooks) is... Buddha.

Look at that—Buddha sporting the man bun in all of his peaceful glory.

Now that you know the source behind man buns, it’s obvious why celebrities like Jared Leto, Leonardo DiCaprio, Harry Styles, and Li Shang from Mulan are participating in the trend.

Never change men, never change.

Seriously... don't...

How To: Expat Thanksgiving

by Danielle 

In honor of my fourth year celebrating the holiday in the UK, here are my top four tips for making sure your expat Friendsgiving goes off without a hitch. Read on and learn from my mistakes so you can look good in front of your cool new friends.

This Week in History and What you Should be Wearing

by Maria 

Unorthodox sources of sartorial inspiration tend to be the best sources. Cashmere trousers have everything to do with John Adams. Find out why.

Tuesday, November 25

The Hollywood Ten were blacklisted today in 1947 for refusing to comply with questioning by the House Un-American Activity Committee for alleged communist leanings. This calls for some red on red, with a little envelope bag to hide your secrets. Look suspicious. Or don’t, if you’re engaging in pre-Thanksgiving air travel. Or do.

We're Back!

You may have come here via drunk-tuesdays, the Tumblr that first saw the three of us blogging together. It's been two years since the last post there, but we're back, we've re-located to Blogger (we're ~serious bloggers~ this time, you guys), and we're just as amazing as ever.

What to expect:

• Fashion and beauty posts. Musings, inspirations- maybe even an OOTD or two if you're lucky.
• Lifestyle/general blogging. On the off-chance something spectacular happens between classes.
• The Rumor Mill (or Rumour, if, like Danielle, your spell check is set to Queen's English). The dirt on your (our) favorite celebrities, politicians, and German goalkeepers.
• Music Mondays. Playlists, album reviews, and more.
• Drunk Tuesdays. Topical chats and cocktails with friends.
• Anything else that catches our attention. We promise not to take ourselves too seriously.

Happy Tuesday. Let's get drunk.