Stripes, Denim and Baubles

Hola mamacitas! I have been in such a domestic mood lately. Cooking homemade soups, baking and wanting to experiment in the kitchen allll the time. It's not exactly the best news for my waistline, but it sure is yummy for my tummy. Ugh, is that not the worst phrase you've ever heard? Sometimes I wonder if I write this blog in order to rid myself of all the corny, cliche over the top ideas in my head so I can make room for the good sentences when I'm at work. Interesting thought, huh?

So big news in my life. I mean monumental. For months now roommate and I have been watching LOST. Neither of us had ever seen any episodes and her husband loves the show. He was visiting one weekend so we started from the beginning. We agreed to only watch it when we were together, so naturally it took quite awhile to get through. As of last week, we are FINISHED! I was almost nervous for the show to end because so many people were unhappy with the ending, but roommate and I were both very happy with it. And the best part is now I have my life back!! I know that sounds kind of crazy, but before we were so eager to know what happened in the show that whenever we had spare moments it seemed a given that we were going to watch LOST. Now when we have free moments they are free again and we get to fill them with whatever. Sometimes that it is movies (watching the Vow right now and wanting to bawl my eyes out) or cooking dinner or long walks with Eli. And they are glorious free moments.

Dress: Missoni for Target, Denim Dress: Charlotte Russe. Boots: Steve Madden, Sunnies: Marc by Marc Jacobs, Necklace: Lia Sophia, Belt: Kohl's, Ring: Hautelook, Socks: DIY from old sweater sleeves

I have been wanting to try out this DIY since like May when I found the pin. But it wasn't boots season, so when I was cleaning out my closet and realized I had the perfect old black sweater that I never wore anymore, I snipped those sleeves right off and scurried off to don my boots. I adore the look of "socks" peeking out of boots, but hate the bunchy in my boots feel. Problem solved. Plus, we all know I love love love the black/brown combo!

I love stripes and denim paired together, so this was an easy combo. 

Roommate says I never do over the shoulder looks. So I gave her my best stuff. Not really sure what I'm doing with my hand though.  Come with me? Take my hand? Who knows!

Confession: This is the first time I have worn this Missoni for Target dress. Ever. And I bought it ages ago when the line came out. I bought it in haste without a trip to the dressing room, and it has always been just the tiniest bit snug around my belly. Since that is a "self conscious" area anyways, I never want to wear ill-fitting garments that highlight my troublesome areas or make me feel bad about my body. Fashion is meant to be fun and uplifting. So I decided the best way to hide that factor of the dress was to use it as an under layer. Enter my favorite denim shirt dress that is missing a button and can't be worn on its own until my lazy butt fixes it. And a perfect layered chilly day outfit is born!

So guess what I learned? I have two very different size calves, and my right calf has grown considerably since I last wore these boots :( I don't know if it is running or just general calf growth, but these boots used to always be nice and loose fitting without falling around my calves. The left is still perfect, but the right one was a little too tight for my taste. I hope they still fit over my skinny jeans! Anyone have tips for losing calf weight?? Haha.

I've been experimenting with different makeup shades to go with my new do, and today I wanted to try a bit of a vampier look. I don't remember the name of the lipstick but it was a Clinique shade and I really loved it- definitely a great fall shade. It's more Burgundy than bright red, like my NARS Heat Wave or YSL Golden Cherry.

In case you were wondering, this was a dad-approved outfit. He loves to offer commentary on my clothes (Have I ever told you about the time he kissed the top of my head as I was heading out on my first date and said, hmm well that smells..interesting? THANKS father for that round of paranoid insecurity) and thankfully, today was positive. He said he felt the layers were "fun" and the colors were just the "right amount." His suggestion was to "drape a scarf around my neck" but said "not with that necklace." I would have followed the advice had I not worn a scarf three days in a row already. P.S. You might start seeing more "dad style tips" as he liked the idea of being on the blog.

Bisous!

Sweetness and light

Hello lovelies! I hope everyone had a blissful weekend :) Mine was filled with cupcakes, shopping and delightful times with friends. It couldn't have gotten any better! My Paris BFF took the bus down from NYC for the weekend and we had such a marvelous time together. Even though I had seen her a month ago, it still felt like we had loads to catch up on. We spent most of Friday just lounging around chatting and eating (if you knew the two of us that would be a given).

 Considering it ended up being 80+ degrees on Friday I didn't pick the best day to debut my faux leather jacket, but I got lots of compliments so I think it was worth it :) Jacket: Century 21, Tanktop: White House Black Market, Jeans: Levi's, Wedges: M.P.S, Purse: Vintage Louis Vuitton, Ring: Grandmother's vintage, Earrings: Gifted, Nails: Essie Merino Cool.

Saturday we decided to be a bit more productive and enjoyed a fantastic day of shopping in the city. We also had the BEST thai food I have ever had in my life, which I had totally wanted to take a picture of it to show you ladies because it was so elegantly presented, but silly me forgot the memory card in the camera. Anyways, Sam and I are planning to move to Georgetown together when she moves here in January, so we also wanted to check out the area and see if there were any available apartments as well. While we didn't exactly find our dream apartment yet, we certainly managed to find some major shopping scores! I even got to experience my first vintage store. We didn't really have enough time to thoroughly explore and sift through to find the hidden gems, but we had fun anyways and now that I know where it is, I will definitely visit again. And of course I had to pop into my beloved Steve Madden to once more drool over the beautiful glittery pumps I have been admiring forever. Sam and I both ended up doing great at Urban Outfitters though! A lot of adorable clothes on sale.

I was sooo happy when I came across this adorable little racerback tank shoved in the back of the crowded sales rack. Not only was I in love with the casual loose fit and the stripes, but the words are of course part of my blog name! It just seemed too perfect. Expect to see this in an outfit post asap before it gets too cold!

I have a major thing for printed sundresses and the color of this one, combined with the wonderful sale tag, made it irresistible to me! Even though the days of sundresses are pretty much gone for the season, I think this can definitely be paired with a jacket, tights and boots to carry it into fall.

I really loved the mixing of prints. Have you noticed my theme of enjoying that trend?? :)

 I also picked up a perfect little black lace bandeau bra (which I had desperately needed) but I think I will keep that just to myself :) After I had completely worn Sam out with shopping I had to reward her with an overdose of sweetness as we ventured to the famous Georgetown Cupcake shop and picked up the cutest box of cupcakes I have ever seen in my life. 

If you ever visit Georgetown please make sure to try one of these delectable treats! But I highly recommend pre-ordering them unless you enjoy waiting in an hour and a half line. Sam, my cousin (Katie) and I each picked two scrumptious cakes from the menu to sample. Katie and Sam both went with a classic red velvet and while Katie paired hers with a cute sunshine, Sam decided to be festive and try out a pumpkin spice. I of course couldn't pass up a peanut butter fudge and a mint oreo selection. All of us were very satisfied and full, though the cat was not pleased that he did not get to partake in the sampling.

I admit that this has kind of become my go-to shopping day ensemble. To me it is the perfect combination of comfortable enough to spend the day testing and trying new clothes, but chic enough to make you feel confident as you browse. Dress: Heartloom, Boots: Steven by Steve Madden, Earrings: gifted, Bracelets: borrowed from mom, Ring: Grandmother's vintage.

Ok ladies, now enough about me, I want to hear all about your weekends! Any shopping trips or major scores that you are just thrilled about? Did you explore any fun cities that you want to share with me? I'd love to hear all about it darlings so share away! And stay tuned for my mystery exciting purchase reveal :)

Bisous!

Pretty in pink

Hello bellas! Oh the joy of working two jobs and not hoping into bed until 3 am.... and yet I am still blogging. Guess that makes me crazy! Well I apologize, but I am going to keep this short for now since my eyes are fighting to stay open, and who knows what I might write in this sleep-deprived state! :) I will leave you with just my outfit pictures for now, but check back tomorrow afternoon for an updated post! Every Wednesday in October is show your pink support day at my office, which naturally I love for many reasons, so of course I had to join the cause! Not that it was a hardship since I am obsessed with pink anyways. Ok ladies, good night and good luck!


(P.S. I was doing sooo well on no shoe buying... until today)

In honor of yesterday's tribute to scarves, I had to show you one of my personal favorites! Shirt: H&M Paris, Dress: BCBG, Scarf: Paris, Leggings: Paris, Boots: Madden Girl, Watch: White House Black Market, Rings: Charlotte Russe, Grandmother's vintage collection, Earrings: gifted.

One of my favorite purchases from Paris, and I got it from a street vendor for 3 euros!

Even sporting my breast cancer awareness watch! I know it is a little hard to see but the ring on my pinky is one of my absolute faves! It is one of my grandmother's vintage rings and she gave it to my mother the day I was born, because it was my birth stone. I love wearing sentimental pieces and this one is beautiful to boot. Unfortunately my fingers are larger than my grandmother's so it only fits my pinky. But I still wear it!

Yes, I know this has nothing to do with clothes, but how cute are these breast cancer awareness cookies?? I couldn't resist them in the caf. today! I still haven't eaten them, but I have no doubt they will be as delicious as they are adorable!

Bisous!

Lacquer up dolls!

Hi loves! I realized this weekend just how much blogging has come to mean to me when I really missed all of my blog friends and reading about what was going on in your fabulous lives! It was a lovely weekend with my brother though, which is always good. The weather was absolutely perfect for a sports-filled weekend, and that is exactly what we had! I always enjoy a good dose of baseball, particularly when my brother is pitching GREAT, but I had forgotten how much fun a live college football game can be! And of course watching your team win as the underdog just adds so much joy to the outing.

Taking our picture with the superstar! Getting the whole family together is always such a blessing, since it doesn't happen often anymore. My mom and I are such shrimps next to them! I am actually the shortest of the bunch, but I was on higher ground.

I have mentioned a few times that my biggest fashion goal this season is to diversify my look and not be afraid to try new styles. Well, I feel that I have been making progress with my clothing choices every day, but I am still in a major beauty routine rut. I am so quick to stick to them same look day in and day out with makeup, hair and nails. I have always been a fan of the natural look, and it is quite easy to do when in a rush in the morning. But with plenty of incredible beauty products, hairstyles and nail trends out there, it is a faux-pas for any fashionista to eschew creativity for simplicity all the time. With the s/s 2011 shows indicating that muted beauty trends will be traded in for bright and wild, now is the perfect time to get more comfortable with new looks.So I hereby declare to branch out my entire look from head to toe.

So excited to try out this perfect fall collection! I have been rather obsessed with it for awhile now, so I was thrilled to finally get my hands on these beauties! Now, I just need to get them on my fingers!

As a girl who tends to be averse to change, I am aware that I will need to ease myself in on this full beauty regimen overhaul, so focusing on one thing at a time is the best way to go. Changing nail polish colors may seem like such a basic, and fun, way to spice up any beauty lull but as the girl who continuously reaches for the same shade of pink year-round, even this is a step in the right direction. But with wonderful colors such as the Essie Fall 2010 collection now easily within reach change has never looked so good! Now, my biggest dilemma is which of these gems to lacquer up with first. I'm thinking merino cool or sew psyched first.

How fun is this??

Refinery 29 is definitely one of my must-reads every day and it was perfect timing when they happened to have a fantastic article the other day on spring nail trends. This one is just too cute! I think I prefer the look of a moon at bottom or top, but not both. I can't wait to try it out. Might need professional help on this one, though.

Does this take anyone else back to middle school years?? In those days, it seemed that the more you had on your nails the better. Thank goodness for the return to minimalism.

I just adore fall! The perfect breezes, the leaves changing, chai lattes, the CLOTHES!! Everything about the season is magnificent and Friday was one of those perfect days where you needed at least a light layer. I bought this vest last year, a little too late in the season and I have been itching to wear it ever since.  Long sleeve tee: H&M Paris, Vest: Hautelook.com, Jeans: Levis, Boots: Steven by Steve Madden, Belt: thrifted, Bag: handbag heaven, Jewelry: Amrita Singh, from Gilt.

So the place my mom stayed for the weekend in Williamsburg was gorgeous and the lighting was great when we got there, so went a little crazy on pics!

I am totally in love with this necklace right now. Kind've wishing I had ended up buying the matching ring for the set, but c'est la vie!

And to finish the weekend off, a little peek at my current lust-list obsession:

I am just crazy for this Just Cavalli multi silk printed dress!! I adore the pattern, and like how there is a little mixing of pattern working. It is majorly marked down on Rue La La and they aren't sold out in my size yet, but.... I don't know!

What was on your agenda this weekend lovely ladies? Ever been in a beauty rut? How did you get out? Any nail trends you can't wait to rock? Should I be bad and get this wonder of a dress, or admire from afar??

Bisous!

(Nail images courtesy of refinery29 and dress image courtesy of Rue La La)

Love, love, love

Salut loves! How was your weekend? Fabulous, I hope! I was lucky enough to spend Saturday with my fantastic college babies who make me feel so old! But, I love them to death and feel like a kid on christmas morning every time I get to see them!! I still have yet to spend a full weekend at home since August (crazy, I know) but every trip has been totally worth it. Next up: visiting the best little brother for family weekend and watching him do his thang on the baseball diamond. Can't wait! What did you beauties have on your agenda this weekend?

Well, that stubborn summer I was pouting over last week seems to have exited over night. Today could have been perfect considering it was in the low 70's, but the torrential downpour made it hard to fully enjoy the cool, crisp autumnal weather. However, it made it fully acceptable to break out the leggings and boots! I do not believe in the leggings as pants trend, but I am a huge fan of leggings with dresses/tunics paired with boots. Love, love, love! They are more comfortable and less mom-ish than panty hose, in my opinion, but they have a similar effect of making an outfit a little more appropriate for the work place. The combination of today's outfit and the delicious nonfat chai latte that was my afternoon pick me up finally made me feel like like my favorite season, fall, is finally here!

When I first got this dress I wasn't so sure about it, because I have never been much of an orange fan. But the fun pattern  had won my heart so I gave into a new color and I have never regretted it. Like I said, I am all about branching out this fall, whether it be with a new color palette or trying new trends that I have previously stayed away from. Dress: Kohl's, Tank: White House Black Market, Leggings: H&M Paris, Boots: Kohl's, Purse: Vintage Louis Vuitton (more on that later), Jewelry: Borrowed from mom and cousin, Headband: Charlotte Russe

Always been a sucker for Blair Waldorf-esque headbands :)

Notice something new... :)

I never thought I would have gotten so much wear out of these boots, but they treated me very well last season, and I look forward to another wonderful fall with my original boots!

Lucky for me, my sweet cousin who moved in last January has great style and lets me borrow her jewelry. Thanks cuz :) Finally got the nails polished as well. Still obsessed with purple, but went for a glittery shade this time.

In order to combat the blues that could accompany this gray, rainy day I have been occupying myself with thoughts of things I am loving right now, which I am happy to say is a long list. I won't bore you with all of it, but thought I would share some of my favorite things right now, and yes, the sound of music lyrics are definitely running through my head.

Rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens... Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes. Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes. Silver white winters that melt into springs. These are a few of my favorite things...

 

 1. Ok, how could my new vintage Louis not be on my LOVE list?? I am completely in love with this baby and how the vintage colors go with sooo many outfits! Thanks to the fabulous Gina of Gina Marie Vintage I am the proud owner of my first vintage piece! If you are in the market for anything vintage, from dresses to coats to accessories, Gina's boutique is a must-see. She lists the condition of her items with total honesty, ships purchases very quickly and emails you personally to ensure you are pleased with your vintage accoutrement. Though this is my first purchase from Gina, I would definitely recommend her and would do business again with her!

2. You have probably figured out by now that I adore Audrey Hepburn, so you can imagine how thrilled I was to come home and find this darling poster propped on my bed tonight! My sweet cousin came across this gem while she was at Michaels today and kindly bought it as a surprise for me :) Could she be any  more wonderful? Audrey Hepburn, surprise gifts and the best little cousin a girl could ask for are obviously on the love list!!

3. When I got home from my travels this weekend I was pleasantly surprised to see these two large pumpkins sitting on our porch. Only my fantastic mother could have known how badly I was ready for fall. Funny enough, I had picked up the baby pumpkin on the way home, so we now have a cute little pumpkin family to announce the arrival of fall to any of our neighbors who may be doubtful. Can't wait to decorate these guys with my cousin soon!!

4. As a self-diagnosed shoe-a-holic, shoes are a given in my list of loves and these pink Betsey Johnson cuties, on sale at Rue La La are testing every ounce of my willpower. But, I am determined to be good, thus I am sharing this deal with you ladies but not scooping them up myself.

5. Ok, is it just me or has Gossip Girl really stepped it up with the fashion this season?? Every episode is filled with beautiful ensembles for me to drool over!! I showed you two of my favorite outfits from tonight's show last week, but Blair's sparkly attire for Fashion's Night Out was divine as well! I adored Serena's flowy and sexy dress as well! Bravo Eric Daman, bravo.

6. Last, but not least, is you my darling blogging beauties!! So far my journey with this blog has been an absolute blast and hearing from you is such a joy! I look forward to reading your delightful posts every day, and learning more about you is great fun. Please let me continue to hear from you because it makes my day!! And don't forget to become a follower of my blog! I promise I will return the favor :) Sleep well dearies!!

Bisous!

(Images from ruelala.com and cwtv.com)

First outfit post!

Happy Friday lovelies!! I hope you all have fantastic weekend plans that you are thrilled about. Pour moi? I will be making a short trip to see the best brother in the world and to celebrate a good friend's birthday! Even though it has only been a month I have missed Matt dearly and I can't wait to see him again. Then to finish off the weekend mom and I will be driving up to Pennsylvania to see my favorite preggo cousin and celebrate the soon to be newest member of our family. I haven't seen her the entire time she has been pregnant and I can't wait to see her glow and maybe even take some maternity photos of the beautiful couple. Eeee I love babies (if you couldn't tell) and I have been so stinking excited for this baby to come! Only a few more weeks now though. And you better believe that it will be the most stylish little baby around if I have anything to say about it, although we don't know if it is a boy or girl so I have to wait to start buying the itsy bitsy adorable tinny clothes.

Well I have been awfully nervous to do an outfit posting, but your sweet comments on my NYC photos have made me decide to just go for it. I will get better at these photos I promise, and any advice you have on how I can improve will be much appreciated. I'm going to keep it short though since I still need to pack. Enjoy your weekend ladies and I will talk to you Monday.

Just got this denim dress the other day and I was so excited to wear it with these boots. I don't usually dress this casually for work (even though it is a very casual office), but since I was going to the baseball game straight from work, I wanted to be comfy but still cute.

Everyone at work joked that it was nice to see my actual height, since it was the first time they had ever seen me not wearing heels!

It was still a little too warm to be wearing socks, but I picked up those knee highs at Century 21 in NYC and have been wanting to wear them ever since! 

These boots are soooo comfy

Ok, I admit it. I may be a little obsessed with this bag. And with the website where I found it, handbag heaven. They have a huge selection and their prices are amazing! If you are in need of a cute, cheap bag, check it out!

I told you I am obsessed! I love the distressed leather and the detail of the buttons.

I have become quite a regular in the ring department at Charlotte Russe.

Ok sorry, I know this is a terrible photo but I just couldn't get a good shot of the earrings. Like I said, I will get better :)

Alright, well hopefully this will just be the first of many outfit posts! I think this blog will be such a great way to watch my style evolve over time. I have already been very influenced (in good ways!) by all of you beautiful bloggers and I can't wait to see where else this journey will take me.

BIG thank you to my darling cousin for taking pictures!

Dress: Charlotte Russe
Boots: Steve Madden
Ring: Charlotte Russe
Bracelets: Amrita Singh (from Gilt)
Earrings: borrowed from fantastic mom
Bag: Handbag Heaven
Socks: Century 21

Bisous!

Stepping out of the box

I am fairly predictable when it comes to fashion. My style is pretty girly and very rarely do I incorporate any other elements of style into my look. Yet, I often find myself lusting after more bold looks in magazines. So this fall, I am determined to step outside my self-imposed style box and become more creative with my wardrobe choices. I have seen many bloggers whose looks still maintain a girly vibe, but with a bit of edginess mixed in and I really like it! Thus, this portion of my wish list contains items that I wouldn't typically pick out for myself, but have always eyed longingly when others pull off the look.

3. The military-inspired look is very hot for fall, yet I tend to just flip on by those pages in the magazines assuming I could never pull off the edgy items. But after seeing one of my friends whose style is similar to mine fabulously wear a military jacket, I have vowed to try to add a military-esque item to my closet this fall and rock it!

This Ann Taylor Loft jacket is my favorite so far and the girly/egdy vibe of this look really inspires me. 

4. Despite my obsession with boots (as noted yesterday), one style I have stayed away from in the past is the lace up bootie/heel. I don't have a good explanation for why, but it has just never been a style I was attracted to. But last weekend I found a pair at the Bloomie's Outlet that I LOVED and have been considering purchasing ever since. Again, I like the idea of diversifying my wardrobe and this is definitely a look that I do not have in my closet currently.

I love the rustic/woodsman feel of this BCBGmaxazria heel. 

5. Ever since I came home from Paris I have been tossing around the idea of purchasing a motorcycle jacket. It seemed like every European woman owned one and women with all different fashion styles were rocking the look. I have held off as I wasn't sure what I would wear one with, but with jackets as chic as this, I am not sure how much longer I will be able to resist.

Love everything about this Caslon faux leather jacket!

6. I never, ever thought I would find myself wanting a pair of clogs! I remember when they were all the rage in 7th grade, and I thought they were hideous. But I am slowly starting to come on board with the 70s inspired heeled clogs that have found their way back in style this season.

I think with the right sweater dress these Vince Camuto cover clogs could be beautiful!

Riding on the success of last year's fashion resolution (to wear dresses/skirts more, and jeans less) I am determined to follow through with my goal of expanding my fashion horizons. Now I want to hear what new trends you ladies will be trying to work into your fall wardrobe. Is there a style you have always wanted to try? Let me hear from you!

Bisous!

(All images from polyvore.com)

Boots galore!

Thank goodness boots are big again this season! It makes it a lot easier to justify my obsession, and the growing collection in my closet. I had never cared much for boots until I went to Paris in 2008 and realized that they seemed to be the only shoe European women wore in the winter.To me, boots only came in one style: ugly winter boots your mother forced you to wear to school as soon as the weatherman even hinted at snow. I quickly understood how wrong I was after I saw the myriad of beautiful choices these woman had as the windows of every corner boutique teemed with gorgeous boots of every color and style I could imagine! Unfortunately, I was limited in my purchasing options by my meager student budget, as well as my already overflowing suitcase. I still managed to acquire a small heeled black ankle boot that I can wear with practically any outfit in the winter, and a beautiful chestnut mid-calf heeled boot that is unfortunately in need of a small repair. Rest assured that once the weather permits and the boot is back in commission, it will make many appearances. Needless to say, boots are another must-have item on my fall wish list!

2. As alluded to above, I am fairly set as far as heeled boots go (especially considering I didn't mention the caramel colored mid calf boot acquired from Kohl's last season or the knee high steve madden black boot I recently purchased from DSW), but my wardrobe is definitely lacking in the flat boot category. Luckily, this style is all the rage this fall and I have many options to choose from. I mentioned yesterday that I am not a label snob on most items and the boot is definitely one where I am open-minded. However, I am careful to make sure that the boot is good quality and thus will last for more than a few wearings. Here are just a few of the boots I am currently loving.

Loving Steve Madden's Intyce boot in cognac. The slight wedge adds a nice bit of height for us shorter girls.

I definitely have a thing for Madden boots, especially the Bonanza in black. So comfortable and chic!

I think Madden Girl's Zaney in cognac may be my favorite! I adore the military-esque brass buttons!

Love the buckles on Madden Girl's Zeda, but the jury is still out on the over-the-knee look.

Ok, so I guess I am more interested in a boot with a slight wedge rather than a completely flat boot. What's a short girl to do? Which Madden boot piques your interest? What fall boot are you ladies ga-ga over? Comment it up girls!

Bisous!

(Images from stevemadden.com)