It's Still Spring, Let's Dress Accordingly

Nature decided to play an April Fools prank on Pittsburgh by making it summer for the last couple days. Warm and sunny for like 3 days in a row now. It's been super great. More than super great. However, this "summer in April" has brought a few things to my attention, particularly in the world of Pittsburgh fashion.

First, ladies, it may be almost 80 degrees, but it is April. This means it's still spring, and while it is wonderfully awesome to finally wear dresses without tights, it is not quite time for full on summer sun dresses. I know you're excited. We're all excited. In 2 months, those dresses will look great. Until June, let's keep it to skirts and dresses with more seasonally appropriate prints. This is Pittsburgh, not South Beach.

Secondly, bros, unless you are running, or doing some kind of outdoor construction or landscaping work requiring heavy lifting, I fail to see why you need your shirt off. It's warm, for sure, but it's still only 80 degrees. It's not that hot. T shirts are not that stifling. And the dudes who find it necessary to walk around sans shirts, never look like Jake Gyllenhaal.

Other than that, you're all looking great. Enjoy natures way of saying, sorry for making this past winter the snowiest, coldest, most miserable 3 months of your existence. Drink beers outside, read while laying on the grass, eat Rita's water-ice. Don't forget sunscreen.

It's Spring!

I inherited them from my Mom. They had been hers in the '70s. They were perfect. Tan leather, chunky, platform sandals that went with everything. I mean it! I wore these shoes with jeans, dresses, skirts, shorts, jorts! I wore these sandals until the fateful morning in high school while walking across the football field from the bowling alley we parked at, when one the straps up and snapped.

I was devastated. Ok, maybe devastated is a bit of an exaggeration, but I was upset. I have spent every spring since then searching for a replacement pair of chunky brown sandals I can wear all day without my feet hurting, and that will go with just about everything. I came close the summer after my freshman year at college, but then took them backpacking across Europe with me, and they broke while dancing at the biggest night-club in Middle Europe (at least that's what the sign said..) in Prague.

I spent this past weekend, and subsequently the first day of spring visiting my grandparents in Naples, FL. I felt almost guilty for leaving the sunny and sixties weather of Pittsburgh, but very much enjoyed the sunny and '80s degree weather of Florida. Anyways, my grandparents took me shopping (thanks Grandmama and Papa!), and I found these.

They're brown, they're leather, they're chunky, and they're comfortable! They also make me real tall. It's officially spring, and even though we could still get another snow storm in Pittsburgh, I'll be wearing these around the East-end soon enough. It's going to be a great season.