Winter Outfits: January

I got back to Oberlin a little more than a week ago.  To get here, my friend and I took Amtrak from Seattle to Chicago, then to Elyria, which is the closest train station to Oberlin.  It ended up being a more exciting trip than we had bargained for: we missed our first train and rescheduled for a second, then I got pinkeye and we had to skip our layover in Chicago.  When we got to Elyria, it was 5 am and there were six inches of snow on the ground and counting.  The train station itself is a platform in the middle of nowhere, and every taxi company in the area either charged a buttload extra money to come to Lorain County, or the proprietor was asleep and did not sound happy to hear from us.  We thankfully ended up getting a ride from one of my friends.

Luckily, since then, I've been able to move into my new room, get settled, and start to work on my winter term project.  On Monday, Ratsy's was having a sale, so I popped in to see what she had gotten in since I left.

I usually don't like polyester so much, but I couldn't resist the shape and color of this little dress!  It was really freaking cold when I got these pictures.  You can't see my giant cashmere coat draped over the railing, but it was definitely needed.

Dress: Thrifted '70s 

White long-sleeved tee: Nordstrom BP

Belt: Thrifted

Necklace: Costume jewelry from my grandmother

Boots: Miz Mooz

I wore this to work yesterday.  I've been working a lot of hours, which trips up the translation work a little since I'm incapable of getting actual schoolwork done while I'm on the job.  We're allowed to do homework, but I'm really particular about where I work on things that require my brain.

It hasn't snowed in probably four days, which means that I get to wear whatever shoes I want!  Usually in the winter, I'm confined to a gigantic pair of hiking boots that go with approximately nothing in my wardrobe.

Pants: Liz Claiborne, thrifted

Turquoise pumps: also Liz Claiborne, thrifted

Purple Belt: thrifted

Hat: from Japanese department store

Blazer: New York & Company

Pink bow socks: Tutuanna, in Japan

Tunic: Jude

I've also started swatching something new.  My knitting mojo has been a little lackluster as of late, but I'm hoping to start a bunch of projects soon so that I always have something to work on.  This is Silky Wool to make the Honeycomb Vest from Knitty, which I've been pining to make ever since I saw Mintyfresh's gorgeous version.

I swatched on US 4s, but I think I'm going to have to go down a needle size.  Not looking forward to purling through the back loop on US 3s, but luckily the honeycomb pattern is easy on both sides, and comprises most of the vest patterning.  I also cast on for a new Miralda in delicious hyacinth-colored Jade Sapphire silk/cashmere to replace the one I lost in Japan. Pictures of that to come!