Tag Archives: Chapel Hill

Black and Blue

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Blank Denim vegan leather pants, H&M tank, J.Crew jean jacket, Isabel Marant Jenny boots, Mulberry oversized Alexa bag, traditional tartan scarf

Following my recent perusal of all things leather and pleather, I picked up these vegan leather (ok – just a nicer way of saying pleather) leggings/pants/whatever, and I have to say – they are actually quite comfortable, despite pleather’s reputation for being anything but. Given how chilly it’s gotten lately – it feels like January, no joke – I’m not sure I’m the best judge of breathability at the moment, but for now anyway: pleather, I am impressed.

Side note: I have had this jean jacket since 2001, possibly 2000. Nice work, J.Crew.

 

Weekend Details

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Our Indian Summer continued into the weekend, making for near-perfect weather for a drive out into the country for a music festival on Saturday. Friends were visiting from out of town, so it was especially nice to be able to enjoy some North Carolina October sunshine while taking in tunes and checking out funky local art. The festival was such a sensory feast – so much music (from bluegrass and gospel to clogging and indie-rock), excellent dining options (including some flipping amazing Korean bbq), all grades of colors at every turn and first-rate people watching.

As I write this, however – wrapped up in several layers, a sweater and scarf – it seems the warm weather has abruptly ended, and fall has most certainly arrived.

New season staples

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Entering a new season can be a bit overwhelming when it comes to style. It’s difficult to know what to get, what not to get, which trends will endure and which will be a flash in the sartorial pan. At the start of a new season I tend to be so excited to change things up that I end up taking a disorganized approach that results in impulsive purchases that I regret later (as well as purchases that I didn’t make and wish I had). Enter a whittled-down list of seasonal staples to serve as a base (and keep my spending in check). What’s on your list?

To leather or to pleather?

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There’s quite a bit of leather/pleather/vegan leather/various other leather lookalikes everywhere this season, in pretty much every form you can imagine. I’ve found myself craving leather in basically all of those forms, and have been doing a bit of hunting accordingly. In the search I’ve run into a bit of a quandary, however: leather or pleather?

The most obvious answer is that actual leather, with its buttery texture (and non-plastic existence), is far superior. But is it? The price tag would certainly have you think so, but given that there’s such a price differential – with the whole animal-friendly vs. anything-but-animal-friendly aspect to boot – isn’t fake leather worth some consideration?

Sure, the ’80s would have us believe that fake leather in any form, with it’s plasticky, rubbery texture reminiscent of films made in the San Fernando Valley is hardly something we’d want to put up against our skin, but lately I’ve started to wonder – if they can get so good at making fake burgers, fake bacon, fake fur, fake everything, why shouldn’t fake leather be improving all the while? I’d say we should investigate.

Weekend Details

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Strawberry champagne cocktails at one of my favorite brunch spots

I’ve done a lot of whining about the end of summer, but I have to admit that the weather of the official start of fall has been pretty glorious. Accordingly, I spent a lot of time outside this weekend, starting with an outdoor concert in the farmers’ market downtown followed by some Saturday tailgating (love the tailgate, hate the actual game – weird, I know). A good chunk of the hours spent outdoors was also dedicated to meals – doesn’t food just taste better when eaten alfresco?


Odd that our garden seems to be peaking in September? Yes, but I’m not complaining. 

Serious turkey burgers

Alfresco dining by candlelight

Fall sky over an outdoor concert