the gladiators

Damn I love a gladiator sandal.

Free People Cypress gladiators

These are the Cypress gladiator sandals from Free People, which carries a bunch of appealing gladiator styles, if you’re on the hunt. This was the year I finally found the knee-high gladiator. No support in the footbed so some kind of supplemental padding is in order, at least for me, but I’m pleased with their badassness overall.

Free People Cypress gladiators

What is it about the gladiator? The ancient Greece connection, for sure. Basically those statues in the MFA? That’s exactly how I want to dress. Actually literally exactly. Sometimes.

Then there’s the encasement of the foot and possibly also leg, which can be pleasantly intricate or, equally pleasantly, simple, all while conforming to the shape of the foot (not masking or disguising the silhouette of the human foot but still enhancing it). The classic natural leather (or, these days, at least made to look natural). This kind of timeless design is invariably versatile, easily holding its own in a much more formal context. I don’t think I care about that, though…I just like them.

Have you seen designs from the brand Ancient Greek Sandals? Fantasy sandals.

[Then, also, Scandal.]

Free People Cypress gladiators

theseventhsphinx

Often I think my profile looks bizarre, I think because I hardly ever see it. Strange how different a face can look when you just shift the angle a little.

theseventhsphinx fotd

Quick face breakdown: Kjaer Weis Desired Glow cream blush (love), Becca shimmering skin perfector in Opal (also love, but I like a lot of other highlighters as well. I love highlighter. I should write a post about that…), Benefit Gimme Brow, Milani blush in Luminoso (a little too shimmery for some purposes but a lovely peachy coral, famously popular in the youtube/bloglands), Charlotte Tilbury Color Chameleon in Amber Haze (so easy to work with, a great eye crayon), MAC Cream in Your Coffee lipstick (a new one, so good! My new favorite neutral, more mauve than I expected it would be from swatches), Koh Gen Do Aqua foundation (so, so good for a natural, light-medium coverage, only detectable where my skin was too dry), Charlotte Tilbury pressed powder. I’m late to the powder party but I believe in the power of powder now. I still don’t always wear it, but I believe.

Oh! And a few individual lashes (Ardell, short bunches), which, at least in person, make a massive difference. Kind of a pain at my bottom-rung lash application experience level, but they make a difference.

Free People Cypress gladiators

From the front, though!

Express hi-rise cutoffs, Madewell belt, Skagen watch, Free People sandals, the wooden earrings I think from a street vendor? Other stuff thrifted. A peasant blouse that isn’t too…forced, is hard to find, but so worth it when you do.

This look is quintessential summer to me: white shirt, jean shorts, great sandals, minimal accessories.

Free People Cypress gladiators, summer essentials

Skagen watch theseventhsphinx

Love how mannish this watch, yet not comically oversized on my in fact not-really-that-small wrist. I am often wearing one Skagen watch or another.

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the scuba jacket

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“What?”

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This is going to be a standard autumn uniform. Jeans, tee, scarf, leather jacket.

I believe it’s a combination of the high collar and the seam detailing allowing a snug, tailored fit that makes it a scuba-style jacket. Can’t get enough of these whiskey/honey/golden tan shades, and so pleased to break out my jackets again. I don’t know…jackets. I definitely have a thing for jackets. And eyebrows. And stubble. And Indian food. And peonies. And soccer players. And perspicuity. And where was I?

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Right: cognac, cherrywood, sepia, camel, caramel, rust.

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I am obsessed with the placement of this bun right now. My hair is in the same haphazard bun every day, usually, quick and easy, but I’ve been feeling sick of it lately (and have also lately realized, thanks to photos, that it is almost always crooked, though in the morning it always seems straight enough, and I admit I am baffled.). Want to wear it down more, sure, but something like this is a great sleek alternative, which is, though technically also a bun, fundamentally distinct from my usual bun, a totally different school of bun.

So much less severe than if it were even an inch lower, or at the nape of the neck. So much more mature than if it were an inch higher or more of a topknot. This is seriously what I spend my time thinking about.

Well. One of the things.

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Leather scuba jacket from Wilson’s (also wearing here), Express jeans, Converse, bag from eBay, Ray Ban aviators. On the lips: NARS Audacious lipstick in Annabelle. This formula is gorgeous, ultra creamy and pigmented. Completely worth the price tag in my opinion. Great color range, too. The scarf was a gift from CPL. Chosen very well indeed.

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Here’s another good example of the nosering blending in, I think. (Or maybe the earrings underscore it and I am totally wrong?) Did you even see it? I mean, notice it? It’s impossible to see oneself in a way, so I suppose I’ll never properly know, but, as with so many things, I’m pretty sure I’m right.

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via instagram

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