Pretty little moments

My favourite bookstore | Ice skating outdoors in -7 degree weather (not uncommon here in autumn) | The town is all dressed up for Christmas | A family of deer trekking through the back garden on Thanksgiving

In my town there is magic. It lives in the dust on the shelves of the independent bookstores, in the elusive glory of the creatures of the mountains, and in that opaque yet palpable aura folks like to call Christmas cheer. Sometimes, it is so gracious as to hover long enough for me to capture a comparatively dull expression of it with my lens. Sometimes, I feel the hand of beauty reaching for mine, compelling me to discover and inviting me to gaze in awe. And in those moments, I know I'll never grow up.

x

Chanelle

One final sunny day

Asos Premium Silk Raw Edge Panel dress | Vintage jumper, brooch and boots | Betsey Johnson leopard print socks

Having experienced the coldest four days of my life this week, I am beginning to lose faith in lookbook. There is no way in hell that these tiny Swedish girls can wear a trench coat, stockings and boots in the snow and not be walking icicles. (Unless, perhaps, they're perpetually drunk on mulled wine?) Four layers of clothing seems thin as tissue paper against the winter winds and sleet of the northern hemisphere. And by winds, I mean gales. I wasn't surprised when I saw a squirrel literally flying across footpath, picked up by the wind only to have an unfortunate mid-air collision with a tree.

I always swore I'd never wear a puffy jacket, but I fear this winter will induce me to break my oath. Until then, I'm enjoying the last of the sun for the season.

x Chanelle

Colorado in the autumn

Vintage shirt, bodysuit, skirt, and boots

When it's autumn in Colorado and the sun is setting behind the Rocky Mountains, everything is right with the world. Worries shed their relevance when you're lying among layers of auburn and golden fallen leaves. Despite the dipping temperatures (this week's forecast has hovered between 11 and 16 degrees maximum), the sky is consistently gorgeous, with the Rockies always in the corner of your eye. Enjoy the little snapshots of American beauty.

x Chanelle

(fireworks on homecoming weekend)

Sparkle & Fade top | Vintage belt | Zanerobe Holy Moly shorts | Merona spotted tights | Vintage boots | Charlotte Russe beanie

Before Zanerobe sent me these Holy Moly shorts, I had no idea they did such great denim (or that their shorts came with such cute hankies). There's also a beautifully cut slouchy 'Zippora' dress I'll have in a post for you soon. I can see these lasting a long time - Zanerobe is back on my radar for sure.

Although denim shorts are ubiquitous back in Australia, they're actually a rare sight here in Colorado. Instead, denim miniskirts reign - the kind I haven't seen (or worn) since I was about 13 years old.

If I were in Adelaide, this would be the kind of ensemble I might wear to run some quick errands or work a bit around the house. Denim shorts, neutral top, and a little something cozy. But here it's considered extreme if I stray from the all-American aesthetic of bootleg jeans, a jersey top and a pair of thongs. I've never longed for the sight of denim cut-offs before - this is definitely a period of firsts for me. I'm never dissing Adelaideans' fashion sense again.

x Chanelle

Polka face

Vintage polka dot shirt | H&M leather shorts | Vintage watch | Gifted rings | Dolce Vita for Target shoes

Hype on Lookbook

What do I say when I have too much to say? I'm a writer. This should be easy for me. But it isn't, because I have more enthusiasm in me than anybody could possibly handle. Bullet points? I disdain them. They're shoddy.

But I do want to tell you somehow about my life in Fort Collins. I wish I could relay the delight of finding the $10 leather shorts I bought from H&M in San Francisco, and the wonderful Dolce Vita for Target collection, and the beauty of the CSU campus (below), and my favourite two film photographs of San Francisco (bottom two). I wish I could explain what makes the Greek life so unique, and how elated I was when Kappa Kappa Gamma asked me to join their sorority.

To attempt to describe my experience in Colorado so far would be like trying to show you the glory of the Mona Lisa by sketching on a napkin. So I'll leave you with that, but if you want to keep tabs on my journey, you should follow me on Tumblr. I vomit a lot of words and outtakes from photoshoots there.

xoxo,

Coco