Vintage Country

Growing up in rural Pennsylvania I was exposed to a plethora of outdoor concerts and fairs. Mostly of the “folk” persuasion. My parents were regulars of the Lilith Fair and even Wood Stock in their day so summer days full of lounging on blankets in grassy fields is pretty normal to me. However, despite my rural roots, I was never a fan of country music. That is until I made a distinction.

My parents and I recently rented “Crazy Heart” and after an hour and a half of listening to Jeff Bridges drawl out some pretty catchy tunes, I realized I was tapping my foot and actually enjoying this so-called country style (pronounced in a long drawn out twang). Although, looking back, I really enjoyed “Walk the Line” as well and Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of Johnny Cash. Gasp! Was I country lover at heart?

CRAZY HEART - Official Trailer 2 min - Nov 17, 2009 - Uploaded by FoxSearchlight The official trailer for Crazy Heart, starring Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Robert Duvall. In select theaters December 16th! youtube.com - Related videos

After briefly listening to Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, and the likes I was relieved. Nope, still couldn’t stand their ballads of heartache, pickup trucks, and beer (yes, I’m generalizing here… but kinda rings true, doesn’t it?). I discovered that my love for “country” was solely for the vintage classics. Johnny Cash,  Kris Kristofferson, etc. Their deep voices and soft guitar make me want to pack up my things, buy a horse, and go West.

Two of my favorites:

Ring of Fire - Super Hits - 1994 - 3:21

I Walk The Line - Super Hits - 1994 - 3:49

So aside from the occasional Taylor Swift single, I’m still a strict no-country-music-kinda-gal.

How To: Build Your Work Wardrobe (Female Edition)

The transition from college to the real world naturally includes many changes. A new job, new location, new living quarters (depending on whether you bunk with Mom or Dad), new income, new worries, new responsibilities… just to name a few. A change that sometimes gets left behind at college is your wardrobe. Now we are all guilty of buying those cute-gotta-have-it-for-tonight party dresses… but they don’t exactly double for suitable work attire. It’s important to start fresh when you head into the working world, or at least pick out a few staples from your college career to transition with you.

You don’t need a lot to start building your new work wardrobe. Just some classic pieces that you will be able to mix and match and grow with as you continue to make purchases along the way (and as your salary hopefully grows).

While you may spend more money on these items, look at it as an investment. You will get your money’s worth if you wear them correctly and utilize these pieces daily. And remember: these classics will never go out of style.

The first must have working wardrobe piece is a classic black suit jacket… and depending on your job, a matching skirt or pant to go with it. J.Crew has the perfect suiting that is tailored, comfortable, tried, and true. I invested in this handsome Super 120s nouvelle jacket and never looked back.

Image via jcrew.com

Now $230.00

A working wardrobe should also include a classic tailored dress. Whether solid or print, a tailored work dress goes great with a blazer, cardigan, or alone. Remember to keep the hem right around your knees and the neckline conservative. No plunging v-necks or scandalous hem lines. You can save those for weekends and happy hour. Here’s an adorable classic Stretch Cotton Shirred Shirtdress from Ann Taylor

Image via anntaylor.com

Now $148.00

Any top can look more professional when paired with a great pencil skirt. Choose a neutral color like black, gray, or tan to start with and then add skirts with more vibrant colors and patterns after you have established your basics. A pencil skirt can taper a blouse or feminize a button-down. Add flair and flourish with brightly colored belts. Banana Republic’s lightweight wool charcoal pencil skirt is a perfect fit, a piece I personally swear by.

Image via bananarepublic.gap.com

Now $79.50

Now while not a necessity, a nice watch to accessorize your working wardrobe with is an added bonus. I bought myself a Michael Kors watch as a “congratulations for landing a job gift.”  And I wear it every day. I also like this MICHAEL KORS Square Watch, Luggage.

Image via michaelkors.com

Now $160.00

Now add a cardigan or blouse to your basic pieces (think fun prints and bold colors) and some accessories (long strands of pearls, wrap bracelets, flowing scarfs) and you’re ready to go! 

Top 3 Favorite Philly Spots (so far)

Being in a new city is always an adventure, but we’ve all been known to get caught in the same routines. I know I’m guilty- once I find a spot I like, I frequent that spot and find it hard to branch out. But I’ve made it a goal for myself to try new places every night I go out in the city. And I’ve been pleasantly surprised on more than one occasion. Here are my top 3 favorite Philly spots as of now…

Table 31 Plaza Café -1701 John F Kennedy Boulevard

Table 31 Plaza is the outdoor café next to the Table 31 restaurant. It is directly outside of Philly’s tallest building, The Comcast Center. I’ve been to the restaurant for a business lunch but I found that the outdoor café is a more relaxed, casual atmosphere with the same great food. The menu is moderately priced, on the upward end of pricey but definitely affordable. I tried the Milano Salad with gulf shrimp, bacon, chopped hard-boiled egg and a sweet house dressing. It was fantastic! There are also more “lounge-esqe” areas that are perfect for just grabbing a drink after work or splitting some small appetizers.

Image via rackspacecloud.com

 Devil’s Alley- 1907 Chestnut Street

Don’t let the name fool you- the inside of the restaurant mimics an outdoor garden with trellises, white lights, and black rod-iron railings on the second floor. The only hint of anything “Devil” or “Alley” are the downstairs bathrooms that are graffitied in spray paint (but still clean!) I went here for dinner after work with a friend and my sister. We split 4 appetizers as a meal: The Smoked Chicken Cobb Salad, Tostadas, Grilled Veggie Quesadillas, and Mussels which were a special. We slightly over compensated for our hunger but we still managed to make a dent in all the dishes solely because they were so delicious. The Mussels were especially tasty, but then again, I’m a huge mussel fan.

Image via digiflowz.net

Byblos- 116 South 18th Street

I ended up going to Byblos on a whim, after a happy hour when a friend and I were on a search for food. I had traveled to Greece last year for a week and fell in love with Grecian cuisine. So when we passed Byblos, we decided to stop. I was surprised to see the restaurant also doubles as a hookah bar but where we were seated we weren’t surrounded by any smoke. The lighting was low and there was a dj playing a wide range of questionable music, but the food made up for any shortcomings of the outward appearance. My friend and I split 3 appetizers (I’m a grazer in case you haven’t picked up on that yet). The Hummus, Spanakotiropit which is spinach and cheese baked in a filo dough, and Fried Calamari. I can only assume the hummus was homemade because it was eons better than any store bought hummus I’ve had. It was also served with a plethora of thinly sliced pita which served as a filling meal. The other two dishes were equally tasty and perfect for splitting.

Image via phillypartybooker.com

The Secret Shoe Solution

Image via sherlockian.net

In an effort to stay on top of my finances, I’ve been on the lookout for ways to save instead of spend. One of my frequent expenses is in the form of something I truly cherish… shoes. While I’m no Carrie Bradshaw at this point in my life (if you don’t know who that is, chances are you won’t get the reference either) I know that new shoes every month are not in my budget. So instead of replacing those burnt out shoes, I found a place where I can fix them. Enter: Cobbler. 

While the first thing that comes to mind when you hear cobbler may be the story of the elves and the shoemaker (or a nice cobbler of the peach persuasion), cobblers are very much real… and a practical solution to saving money. For a cheap (and quick) fix for your worn down favorite pair of heels, drop them off at your local shoe repair place and have the heels replaced. I found a very convenient location on the way to my work, right in Suburban Station. It’s a tiny store, 2 Penn Center Cleaners, that also does dry-cleaning. The shoe repair is to the right when you walk in. For around $8 they will replace the soles on your heels while you work. I dropped off my heels in the morning and picked them up before hopping on the train home… what more could you want!

Here are other local Philadelphia shoe repair stops:

Dom’s Shoe Repair

Two locations: 52 N. 8th St. ( 8th and arch ) and 130 S. 20th St. ( Between Walnut and Samson St )

They also repair handbags, purses, belts, suitcases, and jackets!

http://www.domsshoe.com/

Superior Shoe Repair

138 South 15th Street

Clothespin Shoe Service

1500 Market St # 36CE

Does anyone have any other good budget worthy tips for recent grads?