Public Restrooms, Smoked salmon, and "White" New Years Parties

I've just had a notable bathroom experience that I would like to share.

As I wandered over to the bathroom of the coffee shop I'm currently in, I noticed the owners were sitting near the bathroom which I thought might have been to make sure only paying customers used it. I strolled down the short hallway, away from them, through the door to the women's restroom and sat down in my stall of choice. As I was going to the bathroom I realized that I could very clearly hear the owners speaking. Perhaps even more clearly than I could when I walked passed them. It was almost as if they were speaking into a microphone that projected straight into the women's bathroom. They were speaking in a language that I couldn't understand and, as I sat there, I wondered if it would have been more or less uncomfortable if I knew what they were saying. I guess it would have depended on what they were talking about.

Throughout my many years of using the bathroom, as opposed to diapers, I have come to learn a few things about the setting I prefer for using the bathroom:

1. I must be the sole inhabitant of the bathroom. This one's pretty straightforward, I like to go to the bathroom in private.
2. Said restroom must have multiple stalls and locks that make it clear when they are occupied (red or green are exposed on the lock depending on its occupancy). There are few things more awkward than pushing open a stall only to find someone already on the pot, exposed... Multiple stalls prevents the pressure that one may feel in a single bathroom where that particular bathroom may be in high demand.
3. If I am not the sole occupant of the restroom there must be background noise loud enough to cover up or blend the sounds of going to the bathroom. Some examples of acceptable noises are a hairdryer and a shower. I fear judgement of my bodily sounds. 

I suppose my experience in this coffee shop didn't violate any of my basic requirements but it was still odd. 

That's all for now. Have a wonderful New Year!



P.S. I ate a lot of this my first week home. Can you guess what's on that delicious nutty, wheaty, bread?

from bread up: goat cheese, avocado, onion, and smoked salmon

P.P.S Got invited to a "white" New Year's party. In case you've never heard of "white" parties, they're not racist parties where only "white" people are invited but rather events where one must dress in all white. I'm pretty sure I've heard about Kanye West's white party in the Hamptons on many Bravo reality television shows(or some other celebrity). I have some collared, long-sleeved, button down shirts I could wear, or a cute cami but still brainstorming what to do about bottoms. And I might feel a bit frumpy in the long sleeves, but too exposed in the cami. It seems like there aren't a lot of white clothes during the winter season (though I thrift most of my clothes so I may not have the most accurate perception of this). It's also just not a color I feel like buying in the winter. I'm always cold so I like to wear colors that are warm so even if I'm freezing, perhaps I can give the illusion that I'm not. Unsure how strict this dress code is but I obviously don't want to stick out for completely ignoring it. It's just, I've been waiting all year (okay.. a few months...) to wear this 3/4 length, boat neck, charcoal, jcrew shirt completely covered in sequins...

15 minutes of Sartorial Fame

As I raced to my room after dinner, 20 minutes before The Sartorialist was scheduled to speak, my mind jumped to what I could throw on that wouldn't be completely socially unacceptable to wear to a talk by a well known fashion blogger and photographer. I settled for swapping my layers of polar fleece for my latest vintage thrifted piece; a black silk, sequined and beaded top which I paired with the bottoms I was already wearing, my dark green military pants tucked into black bogs (rain...). In case I felt totally ridiculous, I slipped on my shamrock green pea coat that I could hide under.

Chatting with a friend and fellow Sartorialist fan on the way over to his talk, I remembered his more recent posts about peacoats and day sequins (though, as my friend reminded me, it was no longer daytime) and felt more confident in my fashion choices. And honestly, when am I not thinking about day sequins and peacoats.

I have to say, I really enjoyed his talk. It was so interesting to hear about his process (or sometimes lack of process) of shooting people and what he aims to achieve in his photos. He said he doesn't travel or shoot people to report on upcoming trends, but essentially he tries to capture images of an individual's style. I could appreciate his great attention to detail as he described a recent shot of a student who drew him in at the Art Institute of Chicago, from her energy down to the slight shimmer of her makeup.

The people-watching at the event was almost as great as Scott's talk. It was so wonderful to see the range of people and styles that his blog appeals to, from a nearly shirtless flamboyant man in a white furry vest, to chic women in little black dresses, to that one girl I had talked to a million times and never heard express an interest in clothing who stood in line to get her book signed in cutoff shorts and lime green shutter-shades. 

With a great lecture, and nearly equally as fabulous people-watching, how could my experience possibly have gotten better, you ask? Scott Schuman instagrammed me (or rather my beautifully knit mittens by my lovely mother). Holla! 1643 likes and counting.

check it out for yourself: http://instagram.com/p/TG59G-lANi/


-An adorable student at Wellesley