Summer 2016!

zara joie

Outfit 1:

  • Zara jacket
  • Halogen t-shirt from Nordstrom
  • Joie skirt
  • J. Crew Factory flats
  • Ann Taylor necklace
  • Kate Spade New York bracelet
  • MICHAEL Michael Kors earrings

f21 dress

Outfit#2:

  • Forever 21 dress and earrings
  • J. Crew cardigan
  • J. Crew Factory flats
  • Stella McCartney bag
  • Tiffany & Co. necklace
  • Ann Taylor bracelet

jcrewskirt

Outfit #3:

  • J. Crew Collection skirt
  • J. Crew cardigan
  • Halogen t-shirt from Nordstrom
  • Sam & Libby for Target flats
  • Steve Madden bag
  • Kate Spade New York bracelet and earrings
  • Necklace from a jewelry sale at school

 

I know I haven’t posted in pretty much forever, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been dressing fabulously.  Quite the contrary, actually.  I feel like my style really evolves with each passing year, and the major shift I’ve noticed lately is that it’s becoming a little more about the clothes and shoes than the bags and jewelry (though all are still important).  Those who know me often think of me with a bright statement necklace and a massive collection of bags, and that’s not inaccurate.  However, lately I’ve found myself gravitating to the same, more basic (for me that’s a really relative term) bags and jewels to compliment my ever-more statement making outfits.

As I always say, one of the things that really makes an outfit is what you do in it.  That’s something I love about my summer style–my looks are often accessorized by really fun plans and places to go, not just condemned to a day in the library.  I know I’ve posted lots of looks here, but I’d like to take a moment to tell you about where I wore, and what I love most about, each one.

Outfit #1: Rocked this for a fun day off of work that consisted of shopping, the movies, and lunch out with my mom, followed by a night in with a girlfriend I hadn’t seen in ages.  The cropped, butterfly-appliqued jacket and the jean skirt are both very recent acquisitions and I’m obsessed with them.  I wasn’t really feeling the whole jean skirt trend before I found this Joie one.  All the ones I had seen previously either reminded me of the unflattering minis I wore all of 9th grade or threatened to be dowdy.  This one is amazing.  The a-line shape isn’t clingy at all, so it’s comfy and super flattering.  The big pockets, buttons, and braided waist are such fun details.  I’m overwhelmed with ideas for ways to wear it all year round.

Outfit #2:  Rocked this for yet another fun day out with my mom, which concluded with a play downtown.  I have an addiction to Forever 21 floral dresses.  I have way too many in my closet, but I knew I had to buy this one when I put it on.  I feel so beautiful in it, and I love how it’s kind of pinup-girl-meets-Blair-Waldorf.

Outfit #3:  This was a work look for my magazine internship.  I scored this fantastic skirt at the J. Crew on Madison Avenue when I was in NYC with my mom on the way home from college.  The mint and lilac hues are my two faves, and the metallic shimmer is gorgeous.

Outfit #4: My first-day-of-work look!  The moment I got this Marissa Webb shirtdress (over winter break) I knew I’d wear it to start off my internship.  How cool is it with these embellished loafers?  This dress is one of my favorite things in my closet because it can be styled in so many ways.  It’s great as a dress, but I’ve also worn it like a jacket, partially buttoned, with jeans or shorts and tights.

Outfit #5:   I rocked this Express suit to a political event.  Like the Marissa Webb dress, this suit gets unexpected edge from the studded shoes and is one of my closet MVPs.  It’s almost as cute broken up (the jacket with a black pleather skirt or the pants with a great blouse) as it is together.   I love the bold-but-sophisticated statement it makes worn as a full suit the most, though.  A printed suit shows you’re a real fashion risk-taker.

Outfit #6:  So funny story, this was part cute outfit, part kind-of-costume.  The outfit was inspired by the character of Norma Bates from Bates Motel (played by the incredible Vera Farmiga) and I rocked this to a Walking Dead convention where a couple Bates actors were doing meet-and-greets.  No, I do not watch The Walking Dead.  Yes, I do love Bates Motel that much.  But I also love this skirt so much and love the way I look when I wear it, so this is an outfit I would totally wear in regular life, anyway.  What made it more Norma than me was the addition of the belt–and taking this style cue from a fictional character made me realize I should belt skirts and dresses more!

I hope to do more outfit posts this summer.  Hope your season is off to a fabulous start!

marissawebb

Outfit #4:

  • Marissa Webb dress
  • Circus by Sam Edelman loafers
  • MICHAEL Michael Kors bracelet
  • Forever 21 earrings
  • Valentino necklace charms on a chain from M2 Boutique

expressuit

Outfit #5:

  • Express suit
  • J. Crew Factory top
  • Circus by Sam Edelman loafers
  • Kate Spade New York earrings
  • Necklace from M2 Boutique
  • Bracelet from Clique boutique
  • Bare Minerals Moxie lipstick in Live It Up

norma

Outfit #6:

  • J. Crew Collection cardigan
  • J. Crew Factory top
  • Skirt from Paris in Montana boutique
  • Cole Haan belt (stolen from Mom)
  • Sam & Libby for Target sandals
  • Kate Spade New York Earrings
  • Bracelet from Clique boutique

Hearbreakers Gonna Break Break Break Break Break…

dolcedress1

dolcedress2

dolcedress3

La Dolce (& Gabbana) Vita

So I haven’t posted in a while, I know!  When I’m away for the summer my outfits are more suited for taking care of horses and donkeys than for writing a fashion blog.  Also, school is CA-RAY-ZEE and my fabulous photog and I have barely had time to take pics!!!

Excuses, excuses!  Anywho, this dress is my new obsession, my new very special find, my latest prized, real piece of high fashion.

I mean, It’s a bright green Dolce & Gabbana midi with owls, bunnies, squirrels, frogs, birds, snails, and other woodland friends on it.  I mean…

THERE ARE SNAILS ON IT.

As you can tell I’m in luuurrvvvvveeee.  There’s a new Dolce & Gabbana store in Chicago and my mom and I wandered in one day, after seeing more of their owl-motif stuff in the window (their new collection is an absolute dream, with all kinds of amazing animal motifs, simultaneously cute and beautiful).  And then I saw this.  And it was an oh-so-wearable-and-vegan-friendly (no silk!!!) a-line cotton frock with cap sleeves and BUNNIES…love at first sight.  Like actually someone should write a freaking romance novel.

As always, I like to pair a bright patterened dress like this with some neutrals and a piece or two that draws out the colors in the print.  So I picked a blue bag to match the blue birds and some gorgeously blingy Kate Spade faux-emerald earrings (their jewelry right now is off the chain.–or rather, on it…).  And of course, nude kitten heels (confession–wore nude flats instead part of the day) and a delicate gold ring so all eyes were on this dress.

In the future I plan on rocking this number with some different-color accents, like pink, and a cropped jean jacket.  Classic-but-modern femme.

What I wore on Friday:

  • Dolce & Gabbana dress
  • Kate Spade earrings
  • Kensie Girl heels (and for part of the day Boutique 9 flats)
  • Aldo bag
  • ring from M2 Boutique

Title is, of course, from Shake it Off by Taylor Swift.  I’m as obsessed with her as much as (if not more than) ever.  Have you seen her streetstyle lately?!?! Off the charts.  I CANNOT WAIT for her new album on Oct. 27th!!! I can’t imagine how many amazing lyrics there will be for me to obsess over and make as post titles…

Happy Fall all!

Tomorrow You’ll be Everybody’s Fascination.

katespadetights

I’ve had this outfit idea brewing in my mind for some time.

This top is an all-time favorite.  Many of the days I’ve just genuinely felt beautiful I was wearing this top.  It’s Vera Wang’s junior’s line for Kohl’s, Princess Vera Wang.  The clothes are really unique and the line has an eclectic mix of all kinds of styles–edgy, girly, and the kind of boho-vibe of this top.  I definitely recommend it.  The accessories are great too.

The ring I’m wearing today is really cool.  I got it at a craft fair with my aunt.  It’s basically a square plate of gold metal with the word “Sagittarius” and dots in the form of the constellation imprinted on it.  I love horoscope stuff–BCBG makes a lot of it.  I feel like I am very Sagittarius–bold and loud and fun, just like my style.  Horoscope pieces are a nice way to add a personal touch to a look.

Bracelet was a birthday gift from a couple of friends.

And I’m obsessed with these boots.  I needed a pair of tall brown ones and I loved the simple structure and the chain detail on these.  Go Charlotte Russe!

Last day for these tights.  I ripped them on a table in the dining center tonight.

What I’m Wearing Today:

  • Princess Vera Wang top from Kohl’s
  • Marc by Marc Jacobs shorts
  • Kate Spade tights
  • Charlotte Russe boots
  • Melie Bianco bag from M2 boutique in Chicago
  • Earrings from Macy’s
  • Ring from Renegade Craft Fair
  • Bracelet was a gift from friends

Also important announcement!  My wonderful photographer has a new website that you can check out here.

Have a great week all!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Post title a quote from Make it Shine from Victorious