It's just a selfie, but I was so excited to finally have an opportunity to wear my favorite new item from this year.

I traveled to Perú for three weeks this summer (winter, over there) and bought this scarf for myself, along with a couple of hats and headbands as gifts for others. It's from Awana Kancha, a community near Cusco that sells traditional knitting and weaving products to travelers and educates them about their traditions. You can also feed and pet the animals (llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas). I had asked my Peruvian professor where the best place to purchase such things would be if I wanted to buy ethically and give back to the people who actually made them, and he said I should wait until we visited that location. It was so worth the wait, as well as the price.

The scarf caught my eye as soon as I saw it because I love black and white patterns and have been leaning more and more into neutrals in my wardrobe these days. It's incredibly soft and warm, and it's a great piece for pattern mixing, as I did yesterday with my embroidered rose jacket.

I've been exceptionally busy this semester because I'm doing five (!) research projects and applying to doctoral programs (!!!), but I just had to share this with y'all. I've also gotten a new haircut and am enjoying it immensely.