I began 2025 by starting a new book that swept me away within the pages to the coastal city of New Haven, Connecticut, shrouded in mystery and history. 💖

From the moment I began reading Skulls and Keys: The Hidden History of Yale’s Secret Societies, I’ve been hooked!

It’s a long read – 696 pages – but it’s such a page turner that I’m getting through it a little quicker than I anticipated. Plus, I’m in no hurry to finish it because it’s such a great book to get lost in, so I’m taking my sweet time!

David Alan Richards dives deep into the history of secret societies at Yale that started centuries ago: how they began and what their original intentions were (not at all what I imagined either; they were formed by college men to get away from the overbearing shadow of strict faculty and rules of the time!). There’s so much I didn’t know about and I’m eager to see how it unfolds into modern times (the chapter I’m currently in is in the 1800’s). 👀

It’s not a tell-all book or anything like that; the author focuses on the history of how these societies came to be and doesn’t give out any secrets other than what’s already publicly known. Which I like, because maintaining the mystery is what makes it all so fascinating! 🧐

Creatively, I let my current read influence my outfit of the day recently! I love this skull shirt so much, and I put it over a shirt I DIY-ed myself! Sewing a dark red bow in the front and a red “S” patch on the sleeve, it felt like a vintage collegiate look mixed with an edgy yet twee vibe. 💕

Personally, I love to mix fashion elements from different styles and blend it into a look that feels authentically me! I think this look especially conveys that, and I look forward to putting together future looks that involve a little DIY on my part. (P.S.: I also made the lace bow I’m wearing in the back of my hair out of leftover fabric scraps from my sewing drawer!)

Do you get fashion inspiration from unexpected places or things? Since I love learning about history and fashion history, it all intertwines into my style, it seems! 😉