Hey, Mickey! Styling Disney x Coach
Well, hello! To say it has been a while would be a serious understatement. Between my last semester of grad school and a new job, the blog unfortunately had to hit the back burner, but I am reenergized and ready to delve back in, starting with a few looks I had stowed away from fall.
To start with some updates, I finally graduated! It still feels surreal, since school is all I have known for 19-and-a-half years--putting a number to it sounds frightening now 😳--with the last six-and-a-half years dedicated to higher education. Grad school is no joke. It is the greatest challenge I have personally faced, and looking back, I was not prepared in the least. There were a few instances when I considered dropping out, and I dealt with some very overwhelming anxiety that I am still learning to overcome. Many sleepless nights and newfound gray hairs later, I suddenly found myself walking across the stage in my cap and gown for the last time (no mom and dad and everyone else, I am not going on to get my PhD), grateful for the experience and more sure of my own purpose.
With school behind me, I am ready to start my career, looking for fashion marketing jobs across the country (anyone hiring per chance?). I also have a special project with some classmates in the works, which I hope to share with you all soon. Now, back to the clothes!
At the end of my first semester of grad school, I took a part-time job at Coach; I have been with the company for two years with 15+ bags and counting (don't judge, you would too). Of all the collections and collaborations Creative Director Stuart Vevers has taken the company through, none has captured my heart and childlike wonder quite like that of the Coach X Disney collaboration launched this past May.
When I first saw images of the collection and discovered a handbag with ears, I started saving immediately. Blame it on living in Florida my whole life with some of my best childhood memories attached to mouse ears and Disney World theme parks, but I do have a deep love of all things Mickey Mouse. And as I regularly use the words "edgy" and "whimsical" to describe my style preferences, a bag with ears just seems like it was made for me.
Coach X Disney was a hit, and this Mickey kisslock bag in the brand's signature glovetanned leather (swoon) was the first silhouette to sell out. It features two kisslock compartments with a true red leather interior and optional gunmetal crossbody chain strap. I added this adorable hangtag of Mickey's face, one of four varieties, and monogrammed the bag's black and red hangtag with Mickey ears. I love that the bag clearly references Mickey in an abstract way through silhouette without screaming Disney with overt branding. I kept that in mind for my outfit, choosing this too clever gray t-shirt from Ross with a Mickey detailing on the pocket. How cute that his ears are sticking out! Once again, it is a more abstract take on the classic character, making these pieces wearable for everyday without looking like I am about to jump in the family car for a day at the park.
I knotted my top for a cropped look, pairing it with a high-waist, stretch jersey skirt from Vince Camuto and my "Barbie" heels as I call them, patent ankle strap sandals from Zara. I added touches of red for Mickey with my lipstick and Betsey Johnson lip-print earrings, another whimsical detail, finishing with another all-American icon, the Ray-Ban Wayfarer.
Fashion is fun and shouldn't be taken seriously all the time. Pieces like these make me smile.
As promised, I will be blogging more regularly now that I am out of school. I have some fun posts that I have had on hold and will be sharing over the next week, along with some new looks to get us ready for spring.
Until next time...