Playing Ivy

 

I think its pretty fair to say that many of us would love the opportunity to experience a lifestyle far more lavish than that of our own. For some, that might be the lifestyle of glamour or fame. For others, that might be the sophisticated lifestyle of an ivy league student.

Recently I decided to take a trip into New Haven CT. What better way to spend a gray Saturday afternoon than by enjoying trendy cafés and strolling through Yale’s whimsical campus? The chic café pictured above is no other than New Haven’s very own Maison Mathis. A friend of mine lives in the area and promised that due to the café being situated within close proximity to Yale University, one can always spot at least a few cute Yale boys there (reason alone to check it out tbh! ;)) Anyone that really knows me knows how much I truly adore cute cafés and amazing coffee. So after hearing nothing but positive reviews of the café, I knew I had to check it out. While at the café, I enjoyed a smooth caramel latte along with a decadent Belgium waffle drizzled with warm milk chocolate and topped with fresh cream (yes please!) On top of being extremely delicious, the café is extremely picturesque. Its chic marble tables and artsy interior make for top-notch insta opportunities.

Following my pinterest-perfect time at Maison Mathis, I wandered into Yale’s stunning campus to take some outfit shots–talk about perfect photo op, am I right?! And to be clear, I didn’t just “wander” in, some student kindly let me in 🙂 Anyways, Yale’s campus is just as breathtaking as I had imagined it to be.

For this sophisticatedly chic day, I decided to dress accordingly (think Serena van der Woodsen meets Vogue intern). I started off by pairing my go to jeans with my Anthropologie Lucerne Off-The-Shoulder Tunic (on sale now!) I adore all things off-the-shoulder, so it is no surprise that I absolutely love this sweater. This sweater is utterly trendy and is of amazing quality. Its fabric is extremely soft and comfortable–perfect for gray winter days. For shoes, I sported my comfortable Steve Madden suede pointed-toe booties. I particularly love these booties because along with being comfortable, their neutral coloring make them compatible with most of my outfits. My Calvin Klein coat was the perfect element for the look I was trying to achieve. It is beautifully structured, yet very comfortable to wear. Coats of this kind are extremely on trent atm. and they are perfect for this in-between weather we have been having.  For my bag, I decided to carry around my go-to, versatile Madewell Transport Tote. I have had this bag for a couple years now, and let me just tell you, I absolutely love it. You really can’t go wrong with a great leather bag. This bag is definitely a staple piece of mine. Not only is it utterly chic, it is extremely durable. I generally use this bag to carry my books and other necessities, and it never fails to do the job. On this day, this bag was perfect for carrying my camera, phone, wallet and more. Along with my bag, I carried around my staple mini Louis Vuitton coin purse (similar ones here). I absolutely love this little leather good, and I carry it around with me wherever I go, every single day. It is the perfect size to fit your debit card, college id and some cash! For accessories, I wore my Madewell sunnies as well as one of my favorite chokers from Nordstrom Rack. I am totally obsessed with chokers. There is something about this revived ’90s trend that has me totally hooked! Maybe it has something to do with bringing me back to quite possibly my favorite fashion trend of my childhood 🙂 Anyways, I love chokers and have about 20. I love this particular one because not only is it a chic gold, it is layered! So basically it’s like having multiple necklaces in one!

If you ever find yourself to be in the New Haven area or Connecticut in general, I would highly recommend stopping by Maison Mathis for a fresh Belgium waffle and a hot caramel latte–you definitely will not regret it!

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xo Shae