Dog Days of Summer

/ H&M dress (old) but this one is cute!  / Cotton On purse / J. Crew sandals / Anthropologie sunglasses / Michael Kors watch /

In the rules I set out for cleaning my closet, this dress should have been a goner. I hadn't worn it in at least 6 years, I had to fix the hem, and I wasn't sure it even fit anymore. However, something aside from the adorable scottie dog print made me hang it back up and I am so glad I did because this weekend I went to the 38th Annual Houston Dog Show! A bit of hem tape (quick fix!) and fast iron and this dress was the perfect piece to wear to an event all about dogs. The red sandals picked up on the bows on the scotties and I definitely felt like the most festive human at the event. The dogs, however, were dressed to the nines. 

Nellie didn't end up attending the show, but she did make a few photo appearances. 

I hope everyone had a great weekend and is ready for a fresh start to the week. 

New Bohemia

/ Forever 21 dress / J.Crew sandals / Cotton On purse / Michael Kors watch / David Yurman + Syracuse University class ring  / 

In thinking of describing my sense of style, bohemian is not a word that I typically use, though one I wish I could pull it off better.  I had been eyeing this Free People dress for a while, but with the higher price tag, and a bit unsure of how to style it, I resisted. Luckily though, on a quick trip to Forever 21 with some girlfriends a few days ago, I spotted this look alike and instantly snatched it up. It is surprisingly wearable, in a fresh length to my wardrobe and I feel like it makes me even walk with the sort of sway that I associate with bohemian pieces and gauzy fabrics. 

Sequins + Sneakers

 

/ J.Crew Sweatshirt (on sale!) / Zara skirt (old) / Nike sneakers / Wallet from Target / Michael Kors watch / David Yurman ring /

I love when a classic wardrobe staple, like a grey sweatshirt, gets an update. I had spotted this J.Crew version online and after keeping a gift card from there for far too long, realized that this was a perfect opportunity and piece to use it on. The sequin trim is just the right amount of sparkle for the simple shape and helps contrast with the sneakers. While I was never really a sneaker fan until about a year ago, I love how you can pair them with so many styles and they can instantly make your outfit casual and cooler at the same time. Sequins, chiffon, and sneakers--what more could you want in a casual look?

Winter Boot Blues

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

It comes to a certain time in Syracuse when pulling out the snow boots day after day is unavoidable to be able to get around campus and stay warm while doing so. While they may not be the most stylish shoe, my snow boots (#4) are incredibly warm and since they are black, they basically go with every kind of combination of black pant situation that I live in from around November to March or April (!) However, as much as I am appreciative of them, wearing the same boots nearly every day can get tiring and I need ways to spruce them up. An easy and typically inexpensive way to do so are with socks. The mermaid ones above are only $1.50. Whether you go for simpler color blocking styles or more playful options like polka dots or the mermaids, you know that when you pull off the boots at the end of the day that there is a fun surprise waiting.

Tuesday Shoesday : J. Crew Flats

Assorted J . Crew flats : 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 

I am not a big investor in shoes. While I love, appreciate, and 'dream pin' them, when it comes to actually purchasing shoes, I find them to be such an investment and a big deal. As a result of being on my feet a lot, I go through them quickly and as a result, purchasing good quality shoes always leaves me worrying how quickly they will be in need of repair. As a frequent shopper of Target and Old Navy when in need of a simple shoe for the season, my feet are often left in terrible shape and by the end of the summer, the shoes usually end up being thrown away instead of just a quick repair to keep them looking good for the next season. 

As the weather has already started shifting here in Syracuse with the start of September, I found myself thinking that it may be time to retire my summer gladiator sandals and look for a new fall staple that will actually work all year round--the classic ballerina flat. J. Crew's shoes are always extremely well-made and they are quality shoes that I can feel when I wear them--not to mention come in every pattern and color under the sun. With a gift card that has been in my wallet for a record amount of time, I can't think of a better investment to put them towards than this chic and classic style. I'm leaning toward the perfect milky nude. 

What are your favorite pair of ballerina flats?

Back to School Specials

If you're like many of my friends and family members, today is your first day back at school for the year. And, if you're like me, today is also your last first day of school--ever. As my first class of this new year was my senior collection class, I'll admit that there was a good amount of pre-class pacing and jitters last night. However, since picking out your ideal first day of school outfit was always important for how you started the rest of the year (at least it was for me), here are some of the things that I think would make for a great first day! As many of you know, I did end up with the Ban.do planner (and absolutely love it!), but how great would sketchbooks and notebooks look tucked away in that Mansur Gavriel? Amazing, right!

Hope everyone has a great first day whatever grade you're staring. Can't wait to hear!

Bastille

1 / 2 / 3

Getting up and ready for the work week ahead on Mondays is hard enough as it is, and that's before heading to your closet to figure out what to wear to start off the week. Having a few dresses with just enough detailing to get you going are what I usually reach for when Monday morning comes around. With today being Bastille Day, here are three perfect work appropriate dresses in the colors appropriate for this holiday. You all know how much I love red, white, and blue.

Color Inspiration : Poppy

1 / 2 / 3 / 4

Not too long ago, the thought of 'a pop of red' just never really did it for me. However, leave it to J.Crew's Style Guides to change my mind. Issue after issue I was faced with their models sporting the perfect lip shade that I had been hunting for. Red, but not too old. Bright, but not neon. Youthful, but not pink. I was introduced to Poppy. Since then, poppy red has made its way into my style in many ways other than a lipstick. This year's J. Crew sample sale had me longing over the Double Strap sandals pictured above. When on the last day they were marked down to $30, I figured that my new love of the color shouldn't exclude my footwear. Safe to say, they are my new favorites.

I included a few other 'poppy picks' above to show how versatile this color can be in your wardrobe. From swimwear to handbags, this is definitely a color that works in every department.

Which is your favorite?

New Uniform

Topshop T-Shirt / Cos T-Shirt / J. Crew T-Shirt / GAP Jeans / Target (Wrangler Mens) Jeans / H&M Tennis Shoes / Nike Tennis Shoes

If there's one thing that I have learned with living with seven roommates while being abroad, it's that I easily pick up on styles that I like and want to try. While I had long admired those who could master the graphic tee + boyfriend jeans + stylish tennis shoes look for quite a while, it wasn't until I came to London and bought my first pair of fashion tennis shoes--the snakeskin ones above (as opposed to ones reserved for the gym) that I realized it's surprisingly a look that I now wear (embarrassingly) too often. Whether it's a comfortable look for a Monday morning lecture, or a cool mix of casual luxe with the snakeskin and a tailored coat, this easy three-part equation is hard to go wrong with.

Is this a look that you would wear? Even if not, take a try at it--I bet you'll like it.

Preppy Pairings

/ Top: Urban Outfitters (old) / Skirt: J.Crew (old from sister) / Belt: Target / Necklace: Francesca's Collections / Watch: Michael Kors / Boots: 9 West / Ring: David Yurman / 

Well hello, 85 Dresses! It's been quite a while, hasn't it? I have missed this little blog so much, and looking through photos I realized that I hadn't posted this look that I said that I would. If you didn't know, I am currently in London studying abroad at The London College of Fashion. It's going amazingly so far, and I am doing daily updates on my travel blog if you would like to read a bit more about it. For now, 85 Dresses will be running a little slower (as you have noticed), but I promise, not forgotten!

Now to the important things---the outfit! I have many different styles, but I think that one of the first styles that I ever noticed to really start to form once I became obsessed with fashion was classic prep. When I think of classic prep, I think of J.Crew catalogues and lots of plaid and riding boots. This look is one that I had wanted to try out for a while, but was one of those that I just never did. I always knew that with staples like a perfect plaid button down and riding boots with fun additions like a gold glittered belt, gold accessories, and a velvet skirt would take that classic prep that I fell in love with at the beginning, and give it a fresh update to make it more prep with a pinch, as I might call it. :)

Dress Up

Ever since I picked up these at the J.Crew sale last week, I've been obsessed with everything in this punchy pink. Brighter than a fuchsia but not quite as bright as a neon, this is a great in-between hue. I love a garment with a little element of surprise to it. This dress, with it's super simple yet pretty front, definitely makes up for it with a quick twirl around. While I've seen similar styles with one bow adorning the back, this style, with it's center spine panel and two bows, feels like a fun and updated version of a classic that's ideal for the summer months. 

What do you think of this week's dress?

Tuesday Shoesday

You know how some people lean towards a certain color when it comes to accessories? For me, I have a real obsession with blue shoes. There is something about the color that always feels unique and special to me when I wear them, and are fun to try and work into my outfit as if they were a neutral. When it comes to blue shoes, however, blue suede ones are my favorites. I used to have a pair of blue suede ankle boots that had little bows up the front. They were one of my first pair of 'adult' shoes, and they were the piece that always tied my outfit together. Since I have long outgrown those special shoes, this pair from Madewell comes pretty close. With their similar navy suede coloring, classic shape, and easy-to-wear heel, this is a shoe that not only has memories attached to it, but my eyes glued to them, as well.