If I had my choice, I would have lived in 1865 and been best friends with Laura and Mary. We would have done all the things that pioneer best friends do together, including making sugar on snow candy and stewing pumpkin in big kettles over the wood stove.
However judging from the style (despite how cool petticoats are), I would have thrived in the ’60s. Mainly just because I love high-waisted pencil skirts. And vintage floral dresses. And wide headbands.
My favorite part about this outfit is the shoes!!!
I LOVE (!!) these shoes. I tried them on Macy’s a month ago and loved them so much that I almost bought them in a size 7 and risked losing all feeling in my pinky toe. But then I came to my senses and ordered them in the proper size a few weeks later. I told myself that if I kept thinking about them for three weeks, they would be worth buying. And well, I dreamed about those shoes at night. I walked slowly through the Macy’s shoe department, petting the beautiful leather and faux wooden heel. I had to have them.
So I finally bought them. And now I wear them every day even though it’s 95 degrees out and the rest of the sane population wears flip-flops or wedges. I don’t care. I wear what I want!
Skirt: Thrifted
Top (blue and white gingham): Forever 21
Clutch: Thrifted
Bracelets: small boutique in my hometown
Shoes: Zappos.com (Born Shoes)
Kelly
August 6, 2011 at 10:02 amCUTE! Have you ever seen the movie Pleasantville? I think you would have fit right in that movie! 🙂
Mel
August 6, 2011 at 10:09 amI would definitely have to agree with you on this whole ‘should’ve been born like a million years ago’ thing! I really want a record player despite the fact that I don’t own any records and am leaving for the Peace Corps in a few months! Impractical? Very. Necessary for my extreme happiness? Definitely!
Lisa @ I'm an Okie
August 6, 2011 at 10:12 amYou would have fit perfectly into that time! I love the skirt and the shirt!
Tracey
August 6, 2011 at 10:20 amOh Jenna, the shoes are charming!! I may need to visit Macy’s and try them on….
I am really loving these posts – thank you for them!
Cait
August 6, 2011 at 10:23 amlove it girl 🙂 i saw those shoes EVERYWHERE when I was in Europe! They’re so cute and go with everything! xo
Sharon
August 6, 2011 at 10:24 amGreat shoes! And now I need them too..
sarah
August 6, 2011 at 10:28 amI LOVE your fashion posts. You are too cute! And I thrift shop, too, so it’s nice to see others doing the mix and match thing.
I have a question about your hair, though- kind of rando, but I’m curious. Do you still get highlights or do you do all over color?
CJ @ http://healthy-happy-whole.com/
August 6, 2011 at 10:37 amI always love your outfits! You look beautiful as usual! I can’t pick a time period I would want to live in. There are many interesting points in history…
Hmm I will definitely be thinking about that…
Molly @ RDexposed
August 6, 2011 at 10:41 amI want to live in 1940s/Great Gatsby times.
jenn
August 6, 2011 at 11:31 amDo you mean 20s? If so me too!
Baking N Books
August 6, 2011 at 8:35 pmWhat kind of style is that for those of us (a.k.a me – that is not “era” savvy 😉 )
Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance
August 6, 2011 at 10:44 amGah love zappos! Awesome sales
Sana
August 6, 2011 at 10:44 amBahah, you would!
Heather
August 6, 2011 at 10:46 amI love these posts too! You have a great sense of style and I’m really enjoying the photography.. I’m a little all over the place as far as fashion goes..I love the vintage look but always think I can’t pull it off…BTW, HUGE Little House fan here…I must have read those books a zillion times. Have you ever read the Anne of Green Gables series? They are awesome as well.
Dee
August 6, 2011 at 10:57 amWhat a cute outfit! And the shoes! OMG, I have to get them.
Shayla @ The Good Life
August 6, 2011 at 11:10 amLove the outfit! And absolutely loving these posts 🙂
Karen
August 6, 2011 at 11:11 amI adore those Born shoes and they awesome with this outfit! I also love Zappos…service A+; selection A+; competitive prices/sales tax savings A+They never fail me!
Baking N Books
August 6, 2011 at 11:15 amWell it’s a better era than the one that all the women are covered from head to toe and wear giant bonnetts 🙂
Those shoes are cute – wish I could do heels – I can’t even do flip flops my feet are so bad. Yep, I have to wear sneaks most of the time. I’m just so (not) cool.
Darcy @ She Sings at the Table
August 6, 2011 at 11:19 amThose shoes are marvelous! They remind me of a pair I had in middle school that I loved (and wore) to death. I am mostly a lurker instead of a commenter, but I just had to say that I am really loving the new fashion posts 🙂
Linda
August 6, 2011 at 11:22 amJust wondering, when you say thrifted, are there certain thrift stores you recommend like goodwill…? or, I never had any luck there…
thx,
linda
jenna
August 6, 2011 at 11:40 amGoodwill, Salvation Army…local thrift shops…you have to be super patient and be willing to dig!
Hayley @ Hayley Daily
August 6, 2011 at 11:24 amYou are just so painfully lovely! I love your style. The shoes are beautiful, as well — definitely a “worth-it” purchase if you were thinking about them that much. 🙂
Just also wanted to say that I’m loving your fashion blogging.
Lindsey
August 6, 2011 at 11:28 amJenna- have been reading your blog for years and always thought your clothes were fabulous- so glad you are doing fashion posts now!
Cait's Plate
August 6, 2011 at 11:29 amLOVE that first picture of you. Are you using the “retro” filter? I’m obsessed with it on my phone!
anne
August 6, 2011 at 11:34 amThere is a book called “The Wilder Life: My adventures in the lost world of Little House on the Prairie” by Wendy McClure. Have you read it?
jenna
August 6, 2011 at 11:40 amI haven’t but I do know about it..it’s on my “to-read” list!
Laura @ Backstage Balance
August 7, 2011 at 6:11 pmI just left a comment recommending the same book. I should have replied here first, oops! I really love “The Wilder Life” – it’s hilarious!
Alexandria
August 6, 2011 at 11:40 amI absolutely LOVE the first photograph, beautiful and so classic! I loved reading the Little House on the Prairie growing up. I too have always thought that I was supposed to be born in a different era. It’s nice to know others feel the same way!
Meghan @ StruggleMuffins
August 6, 2011 at 11:58 amI love those shoes. I’m always drawn to shoes like that but I never get them because I don’t feel trendy enough to pull it off…I guess I need to wear something other than yoga clothes and flip flops 🙂
Hilliary@HappilyEverHealthy
August 6, 2011 at 12:04 pmI love this outfit! And love these post! That clutch is great!
jourdan
August 6, 2011 at 12:11 pmLove your style. You remind me of me. We dress the same and i am through my first year of (you guessed it culinary school) I am also addicted to ran (seeing as how i ran cross country in high school) and quite the foodie fashionista. Love the vintage look and i’m pretty sure “vintage” may or may not be my middle name. It is either that or “thrifter”. Yes i have been a thriftoholic since i came out of the womb. no shame. I was wondering though can you do a post to re-live the glory days of when you used to post what you ate and activities you did etc. and combine it with what you wore the day? basically a combo post of everything you have every blogged about;.. are you traveling still? food log such as WIAW, new favorite recipe, exercise, activity of the day, book you’re currently reading, a little insight, and fashion. just for kicks! alot to ask and quite a long post i’m sure but let’s get real you can do it! reading through your blogs recently you seem to have changed from the old jenna. just a vibe i get from the writing.
jourdan
August 6, 2011 at 12:11 pmrunning* haha not ran…
Jen
August 6, 2011 at 12:14 pmWhat a gorgeous picture of you! Love the shoes, love the outfit…love it all!
French Heart
August 6, 2011 at 12:44 pmVery Cute!! Kind of Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday with the neck scarf vibe: http://tinyurl.com/3e2qy7w
Do you ever glance at http://www.thesartorialist.com/ Once saw a Paris girl in slim light gray slacks & shoes like yours w/belted sweater about the color of your clutch.
If I had time could so get into Polyvore.com as love putting things together
Mel
August 7, 2011 at 7:24 pmI LOVE The Sartorialist. One of my good (and fashionable!) friends just moved to NYC and I told her to be on the lookout!
Girl in the pink
August 6, 2011 at 12:45 pmI think I’d like to live in the 70s and wear bell bottoms, flowy tops and hradbands around my forehead 🙂
Lauren @ What Lauren Likes
August 6, 2011 at 12:55 pmI LOVE the little house on the prairie books! I have legit read all of them 5 times or more 🙂 love the shoes, I want some so bad!
shelley
August 7, 2011 at 11:51 amLauren,
I still cry at the re-runs!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
August 6, 2011 at 12:57 pmIf you think about something for 3 weeks, YES you HAVE to order it or buy it! The problem with me is that I’ve done that…and then I wait…and something is gone forever or sold out. I would have given it about 3 days and then ordered 🙂
Love the shoes! And love that you would have loved life in the 1800s. Too cute.
Amy @ ahealthyandhappyheart
August 6, 2011 at 1:17 pmLittle House on the Prairie …oh the memories! Love those shoes and love zappos!
Kate
August 6, 2011 at 2:20 pmSuch a classic look! love it!
Amy
August 6, 2011 at 2:23 pmI LOVE those shoes as well!! I saw the same shoes about two weeks ago or so and was dying to have them… luckily my will power got the best (or worst) of me and I didn’t get them. They are on my wish list though, and nice to see you sporting them! 🙂
mrsblocko
August 6, 2011 at 2:58 pmYou should also check out Little Blog on the Prairie by Cathleen Davitt Bell. It’s geared toward teens, but a good read for people who are into the “Little House Era.”
ps I love your shoes too.
Ashley
August 6, 2011 at 3:52 pmI love the shoes and I love the clutch.
Emily @ Life on Food
August 6, 2011 at 4:07 pmBeautiful! I love the outfit. I always wished I could live in the 1950’s.
Sharon
August 6, 2011 at 4:10 pmJenna did you buy the green Sunrise Shirtdress? Haha…my first ever Jenna sighting. I was too shy to say anything, but it was fun to see you at Anthropologie today. And by the way, your blog photos don’t do you justice at all, as adorable as you look in them. Folks this girl is STUNNING. And I am starting to think I might need those green ankle jeans-though I am sure I will look nowhere near as good in them as you do…
ok now that I feel like a total stalkerazzi….lol
jenna
August 6, 2011 at 5:22 pmoh my gosh, you are so hilarious! why didn’t you say HI????!!! Would have made my whole day! I didn’t end up buying that dress…only a necklace that was on sale 🙂 The dress had a random stain on it…
you’re so sweet!
Sharon
August 6, 2011 at 9:33 pmAw, you’re right, I should have…but I had a socially awkward moment! It’s funny, I always thought I’d see you someday at the Y, or at Spring Lake, or at Whole Foods…but instead on a random Saturday I spot you 45 minutes away at Anthropologie in Marin County!
Susan
August 15, 2011 at 10:38 amFunny, it is a socially awkward moment! I’ve seen Jenna a few times at the Saturday Farmers Market and I’m pretty sure I saw Adam at Chloe’s. It feels a little weird to just go up and say “hi.”
mom
August 6, 2011 at 4:15 pmI think that this calls for you posing the picture of you in the bonnet and prairie dress that Grandma made you. You wore it so proudly … !
Sarah
August 6, 2011 at 4:23 pmI have these shoes! They are awesome and I will probably wear them all summer long too…
Notyet100
August 6, 2011 at 4:39 pm🙂
carin
August 6, 2011 at 4:45 pmI think Zappos is way overpriced. You can find better deals & just as good selection on shoebuy.com, 6pm.com, and endless.com, and great final sales on piperlime.com. I may have just given myself away as a shoe hoarder 🙂
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma)
August 6, 2011 at 8:26 pmshoebuy does have better prices than zappos but they have less of a selection and they don’t upgrade your shipping to one day. 🙂
Ally
August 6, 2011 at 4:54 pmI adore this picture of you! (I haven’t been to your blog in a while and am playing catch up.)
Kristin Murdock
August 6, 2011 at 5:16 pmOh what fun!!
Margo @ Peanut Butter Trees
August 6, 2011 at 5:57 pmI love those shoes!!
Annie D @ Annie's Simple Life
August 6, 2011 at 6:33 pmC.U.T.E!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lauren
August 6, 2011 at 6:34 pmCute outfit! I thought I was the only one who’d enjoy living life in petticoats and dresses all day, nice to know I’m not alone.
Cookie
August 6, 2011 at 6:36 pmYou are so gorgeous! Love.
Natalie
August 6, 2011 at 6:43 pmJust wanted to let you know, I’m loving the fashion posts!
Lori Lieberman, RD, CDE, MPH, LDN
August 6, 2011 at 8:08 pmWow, she cooks, bakes AND wears awesome, funky outfits. Hard to keep up with such an amazing blogger!
Vanessa
August 6, 2011 at 8:16 pmYou could pull off anything!! I wish I could! My friend and I were talking about how fabulous you made those green pants look earlier today. Rock on!
Victoria (Sweet and Healthy Living)
August 6, 2011 at 9:11 pmAgain, such a cute outfit! How do you do it? 😉
The Artist Who Never Starved
August 6, 2011 at 10:01 pmI don’t know if I could ever live as a pioneer, I would be dead the first day! I always joke with my mother (because I have pioneer ancestors) that they would have wanted me to bask in the age of technology, running hot water, deoderant, and wonderful wonderful malls. haha. Great outfit : )
Teri
August 6, 2011 at 10:17 pmI’m glad you bought the shoes! I’ve had a few times where I’ve passed up items that entranced me that way and I’ve regretted it for long periods of time. There are still times when I think of and pine for a vase I wanted to get but didn’t, almost 8 years later.
Shaina
August 7, 2011 at 5:31 amI love this outfit so much and ever since I saw it last night I have been OBSESSED with the shoes. I have been trying to track them down on the internet ever since – man they must be popular, because zappos is out of them now! I found them on another website (that I am keeping secret because I’m not ready to take the plunge and pay full price for them quite yet … and I don’t want them to disappear completely from the interwebs). I just got a new job that will require business casual (as opposed to the jeans and t’s I’m used to wearing daily), and I feel as though I MUST have these shoes to go with all of my new cute pencil skirt outfits. MUST HAVE MUST HAVE.
Shaina
August 7, 2011 at 7:06 amWho am I kidding? Basically the second I wrote that last comment, I went to Eddie Bauer (yes, Eddie Bauer! The last place I could find them in brown in my size – 9) and bought them. For your readers … I found a 20% off coupon code that sweetened the deal. Complete with shipping and handling and the discount, it cost just under $100 for the pair. The coupon code is HOLPRETFS. 🙂
Shannn
August 7, 2011 at 7:28 amWhat a great skirt! I am hoping you (or anyone actually) can help me; I love the book reviews and recommendations on here, what are some other great book blogs?
Thanks!
amy walters, aDESIGNdock
August 7, 2011 at 7:37 amAhhh….I’m the same. I’ve always felt like I should have grown up in the 50’s/60’s. I’m too old school for 2011! Love the outfit. You look fabulous, as always!
Cheers, amy*
Liz @ Tip Top Shape
August 7, 2011 at 7:54 amLove those shoes!!! I’ve been looking for a similar pair! I am really loving all of these fashion posts!! More, please 😀
kaila @ healthy helper!
August 7, 2011 at 8:35 amI love your style! So chic and girly!!! you would fit perfectly into that era! 😉
Aja
August 7, 2011 at 10:06 amI love those shoes.
Kelsey @aslolife
August 7, 2011 at 11:15 amLove those shoes so much! I love Born shoes, they’re fashionable but definitely made for those of us who are on their feet a lot!
Chelsa
August 7, 2011 at 11:27 amThis is such a cute look! I love the thrifted clutch so much.
Kim
August 7, 2011 at 11:50 amlove it 🙂
anne
August 7, 2011 at 12:24 pmAlso – did you see this article?
http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/travel/at-laura-ingalls-wilder-sites-trading-tiaras-for-calico.html?pagewanted=1&ref=travel
Juniper
August 7, 2011 at 9:43 pmanne- thank you so much for sharing this! : ) My young neice will love this!
MartA
August 7, 2011 at 1:31 pmWhat’s up with the fashion stuff? What happened to exercise and healthy living?
Nina
August 8, 2011 at 7:45 amI think this comment is nonsense. If you were a follower of Jenna’s blog, you were know that she rarely blogs about exercise anymore. She can write about whatever she wants to write about, and judging from the plethora of excited comments here, people love it. There are plenty of other healthy living blogs that just focus on 3 meals a day and logging their workouts. This isn’t one of them.
Pam
August 7, 2011 at 1:42 pmYour style is awesome, rock it Jenna!!
Carol
August 7, 2011 at 1:44 pmJenna, I love your strategy for buying new shoes…if you keep thinking of them for 3 weeks then you definitely like them!! I rarely buy new shoes because I have to decide I really want them…and I’m afraid I’ll dislike them after I own them, I’m going to apply this thinking next time I purchase new shoes!
Avery
August 7, 2011 at 2:59 pmI’m so jealous of this. You could start a fashion blog!!! All of your outfits are so creative.. trendy but not identical to any typical style. Keep up the fashion posts!!
Michele @ Healthy Cultivations
August 7, 2011 at 5:45 pmI love the skirt.
And I recently visited the Laura Ingalls Wilder house and museum in Mansfield, Missouri. This was where she lived while writing all of the Little House books. She and Almanzo built the house and lived there until they both died. I also visited their graves, which are next to their daughter’s. It was a great experience — here’s a link to a post with my photos if you’re interested: http://www.healthycultivations.com/?p=3086
Laura @ Backstage Balance
August 7, 2011 at 6:09 pmLove the Laura Ingalls Wilder-inspired shoes! Have you read The Wilder Life by Wendy McClure? It’s one woman’s reflections on the Little House books, TV show and home sites. It came out earlier this year and is soooooo hilarious, yet makes deep personal connections. I highly recommend it!
em @ simplypresent
August 7, 2011 at 6:17 pmI agree, I was born in the wrong decade. I grew up reading the “Little House” books. They take me straight back to my childhood 🙂
Shari @ Chicago Cuisine Critique
August 7, 2011 at 7:14 pmCute outfit. My mom has often told me I should have been a young adult in the 20s. I think she’s right, I totally would have fit in. 🙂
Amy
August 7, 2011 at 10:59 pmI love those shoes! The whole outfit in fact. Whilst you would have been right at home in the 60s isn’t it more fun nowadays when you can go from 1960’s pencil skirt one day to the 70s skinny jeans the next and then leap back to a 1940s skirt suit yet another day!
Natasha
August 8, 2011 at 5:06 amI love the fashion posts lately! It’s great to see recipes & fashion all in one.
OveLoves
Kim @ Imperfectly Perfect
August 8, 2011 at 9:17 amGreat outfit! I have such a hard time putting outfits together. I feel like my style is very boring.
Laura
August 8, 2011 at 12:45 pmNot only do I agree that I would completely fit in the 60s, but I love the shoes. I also think that photo is so close to Marsha Brady!
Coveting: Born Waverly Oxford
August 9, 2011 at 7:58 am[…] that I already purchased. Â I saw these absolutely adorable shoes on one of my favorite blogs, Eat, Live, Run over the weekend and became instantly obsessed. Â I love the vintage-y quirky look of the shoe, and […]
Danielle
August 10, 2011 at 7:47 amI am now obessed with these shoes. Found them on sale even! Cannot wait to find the perfect outfit to go with. Thanks for inspiring me to step up my wardrobe!
Gran Does Boot Camp « Cupertino Chronicles
August 18, 2011 at 2:08 pm[…] We hit the thrift store today and I scored a couple of cute skirts for only a few dollars. I was inspired to search for a pencil skirt after reading about Jenna’s. […]
Melissa
July 25, 2013 at 1:06 pmJenna- O.my.gosh, I just have to tell you how much I love Laura and Mary and Carrie and Grace. I realize this post is two years old, but I track- backed somehow when searching for summer squash recipes. I have always wanted to see my own sheets or make my own cheese or even play with the pigs bladder as a balloon- I think that’s why I married a boy who’s family owned a farm 🙂 I owe a lot to growing up with those books!