Cold Weather Wear

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Well wow, everyone! I think that it is officially Winter here in Syracuse. Goodbye PSL's and hello to Gingerbread and Peppermint Mocha's. Aside from all of my favorite warm winter beverages, Winter is one of my favorite seasons to dress for, despite my continued dislike for the cold weather--it's the Texan in me, I guess. Anyway, we just had our first real snowfall this past weekend and I'm officially in bundle mode. Over the years of attending college in one of the snowiest cities in America, I have found that accessories really are key to keeping warm and are also a great and easy way to add extra patterns and textures to your overall look. I put together a few of my necessities for once the weather cools down:

1. A statement faux fur coat: I have learned that having a few statement coats in your closet in addition to your go-to basics really is ideal when it comes to colder weather. Since there is a good chance that you will be wearing a coat everyday for the next four-five months, having a few that feel fun instead of just warm will make getting ready to brave the cold a little more stylish. I think I'm at the point to where I have a rainbow collection of faux fur (...oops), but this Topshop daisy one sure did catch my attention. 

2. A beanie / hat: This is the area that I need to improve on. Hats make such a difference when it comes to not having the heat escape your body. I for one, don't think that beanies look the best on me, but I saw this chunky H&M style this past weekend (after my ears were freezing) and am determined to start trying to pull them off even if it's just a warmth issue.

3. Fun mittens / gloves: If you're anything like me, keeping the same pair of mittens over the course of the winter season (forget the year) is quite the struggle. Like socks, I always end up with one of them and have misplaced the mate. Because of this, I try to have a few different styles always stocked up and in different places from my book bag, my car, and my room for whenever the cold hits. Inexpensive styles like these cute Old Navy ones keep me smiling even when I'm cold. 

4. Over-the-Knee boots: Boots are one of the best winter investments in my opinion. I have quite the collection of ankle boots in my shoe closet, but have yet to add a pair of over-the-knee ones. The Stuart Weitzman 50/50 is one that is on my 'winter wish list' year after year, but these Zara ones come in pretty close, too. How fabulous is the patent cap toe part?!

What are your must-haves for the Winter season? I'm also a huge fan of infinity scarves. They make all the difference in my opinion.

Invaluable

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When it comes to watches, I have been dedicated to my gold Michael Kors since I got it in high school six years ago. Usually I am drawn to chunkier mens style watches, and I love feeling the weight of it on my arm and the finish that it brings to an outfit overall. Invaluable is the world's largest online auction marketplace for so many luxury items from fine jewelry to artwork. I styled three looks around a particular mens watch on their site and while a Rolex isn't typically anywhere in my budget, I appreciated this style for it's silver and black sleek appearance compared to my glaring gold Kors for a change. Far too often I find myself wandering the mens watch section in department stores (and my dad's arm) for these styles that I am particularly attracted to, and this was a fun opportunity to see how a change in a timepiece can change an overall outfit and attitude. Here I have put together three different looks with this beautiful watch that I felt enhanced and worked well together with such an elegant and timeless piece. 

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Which is your favorite look above? How would you style this watch?

Check out all of the other mens watches on Invaluable! 

Sparkle + Shine

/ Forever 21 button-up / Topshop shorts (old) / Primark sandals / BaubleBar necklace / Michael Kors watch / David Yurman ring / 

I love my denim cut-offs as much as the next girl, but when it comes to shorts I have a special soft for dressier options. I got these minty brocade ones from Topshop a few summers ago and while I typically pair them with a simple t-shirt to dress them down, I decided to dress them up instead with prim pieces in the form of a crisp button-up (all the way!), sparkly new necklace, and favorite heeled sandals.

What are your favorite style of shorts? Dressy or Casual?

Bastille

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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.

White Hot II

/ H&M sweater + skirt / Sunnies from NYC street vendor / Michael Kors watch / David Yurman ring / Topshop purse / Fur Pouf from London trimming store / Primark platforms /

As much as I love an all white look, I love using white as a starting point for colors, too. Here, I mixed a favorite bright white sweater (love the sleeves!) with a cream colored old lace skirt from H&M. Working within a similar color palette is something that I like to play around with often, but not so much when it comes to neutrals. I love how this look started out simple and focused on the light colors and more on the shapes of the skirt and the sweaters' sleeves, and soon turned into a sort of Lula-esque floral and pink moment. That's probably one of the main ideas that I love about getting dressed-- you can have an idea in mind of who you want to be that day or of how you want to dress, and quickly, the pieces sort of combine themselves into your end point where you may have never even thought you'd end up. Does that ever happen to any of you?

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.

Green Machine

Zara Coat / River Island Culottes / Baublebar Bracelet / Joseph Top / Givenchy Purse / Topshop Dress

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone! While some of my flatmates ventured off to Ireland this past weekend to celebrate traditionally, I stayed in London enjoying the very much spring-time weather that we have been having lately. With green as the color of St. Patrick's Day, this kelly green color on all of the pieces featured in the image above, embody springtime, as well--even the coat for those unexpected cooler days and nights. When it comes to this shade of green, every item that I have of it is something unique and special because unlike its olive and army green friends, it is not seen as often, though it is definitely wearable. 

How do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day? Do you sport green all day and pinch those who don't?

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Three Ways: Lace Overalls Part III

/ Topshop coat / Zara purse, heels, and button-down / Necessary Clothing overalls / Francesca's necklace /

For the final part of our overalls three ways mini series, what better way to finish off layering than with our new favorite print--camo. Remembering how versatile it was from this post, I pulled out this jacket that I needed when I bought last winter at Topshop, but couldn't figure out what to pair it with--until now. This short jacket (that came with a removable faux fur vest inside) is the perfect alternative to your traditional single colored and longer versions when you feel like adding either a little bit of interest to an outfit or, in this case, a lot. Since these are overalls, not pants, the short length of the jacket allows for them to be shown off a bit more which also allows the lace to be seen, as well. It's interesting how so many things feel like neutrals to me now. From hot pink then denim and now camouflage, fashion is much more fun when you aren't stuck on whether or not things match and instead, just keep playing with the pieces until you come up with a final product that you love.

Have you gotten any more confident in camouflage? I'd love to know!

As for our mini series, check out the three final looks below!

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I hope you enjoyed this mini series as much as I did. 

Xo

The Pink Coat

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If you've been paying any attention to fashion trends since the Fall/Winter fashion shows this past February, you are well aware that pastel coats and warm weathered wear in non-traditional colors are everywhere! Carven Fall/Winter '13 I'm looking at you. Ever since I noticed how suprisingly wearable the pink coat can be, I have been on the hunt for the perfect style. To counteract the super feminine quality of the pink, a style in a more relaxed and masculine shape will keep it from looking too sweet, as well as a color that is either a dusty pink or more coral version--though the pale baby pink versions do have me picking them up off the shelves. Above I have compiled six varying shades of pink coats. From H&M and Topshop versions (1 and 2) to luxe styles like the vintage Courreges (3) or Elizabeth and James (6), each have elements that make them special and unique. I tried on the Topshop one (2) a few weeks ago and the cut and material had me styling look after look in my head.

So, what do you think? Would you wear a pink coat? Which of the above styles is your favorite?

Trick-Or-Treat

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Trick-or-Treat, edgy or girly, sweet or a little bit spicy, contrasting elements always make for interesting and fun combinations. Taking the classic Trick-or-Treat idea from Halloween, I gathered pieces that fit a bit more of an edgier feel (Trick) with sweeter pieces (Treat) for a combination worth sinking your teeth into.  With embroidered eyes in the Kenzo jacket and mittens or a bat t-shirt with  pieces like a flirty Rebecca Minkoff mini, Kate Spade heels, or a Checked Topshop skirt make it fun to mix and match and create a look that is made up of different styles to end up with one that the perfect juxtaposition of trick and treat. It doesn't always have to be one or the other. 

Do you lean more towards the 'Trick' or 'Treat' pieces? 

I'd love to hear! 

Orange Spice

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With the first of October yesterday, the feeling of fall for me really starts to set in. Pumpkins are being sold at the grocery store, the leaves (while having been changing colors for a few weeks now) are finally falling, and Thanksgiving plans are being arranged. While I used to feel that orange was a color more associated with the month of November, I found time after time while browsing online I was being drawn to these orange spice colors-- a color I'm not typically a fan of. However, when the color was applied to a design that wasn't solely plain orange, like an embossed bag (3) or patent skirt (1) seen above, I fell in love.

What are your feelings about orange?

Dress Up

One of the pieces that I feel doesn't get as much attention as it should is the classic slinky slip dress. This style is the perfect starting point for any look, in that basically anything can be added to it, and will usually work. Slip dresses are easy to wear, versatile, and can easily pull of the effortless look--even if you put a lot of thought into what you paired with it. This week's 'Dress Up' feature is this Floral Satin Slip dress from Topshop. While simple in shape and cut, the floral patterns aren't common when it comes to florals, and are in a much more sophisticated and abstract manner. A piece like this is also ideal for transitional weather, like what we have been having here in Upstate New York. For cooler days, pairing it with a leather jacket and black booties will help to make the floral even less feminine and more edgy, while throwing on a dark wash chambray left open with a pair of neutral flats will keep the look more casual. If you really want to be a fashion risk taker, opt for this upcoming seasons' huge trend of mixing florals and plaids by tying a plaid button-down loosely around your waist, or wear it open, as well. 

What do you think of the Floral Satin Slip Dress? How would you style it? I'd love to hear!

Fresh for Fall

/ 1. Topshop Tank / 2. Forever 21 Jacket / 3. Topshop Skirt / 4. Forever 21 Sandals

After what felt like excruciating heat for about the past week (I totally forgot about no AC at school), the weather finally cooled a bit yesterday. While it was certainly still every bit sandal weather footwear-wise, getting to throw on a new favorite varsity jacket with the coolest quilting that I found for $18 the day before, made that exciting look towards fall a good one. With a black and white palette and faux leather jacket, metallic sandals in a similar style to the ones above, added the shine needed to take the simple palette to a sophisticated one, all while happily welcoming fall.

TWENTY

/ 1. Topshop Dress / 2. Anthropologie Belt / 3. Birthday Cupcake / 4. Illamasqua Lipstick in 'matte warm pink' / 5. Asos Heels /

When it comes to birthday celebrations, I either love to go all out, or super simple. Since going to college, my birthday always falls on the first official weekend back at school, so my celebrations are more low-key and focused on being with friends and remembering to celebrate before the workload gets heavy. This year, I turned 20. Two decades old deserves some celebration in my book, and the pieces above certainly seem as if they would make turning twenty feel as fabulous as everyone says it is supposed to be. With a perfectly feminine, yet simple, light pink party dress, sparkly belt, understated heels that pack the interest in the gold ankle bands, a lipstick that adds just the right amount of pop to your pout, and a cupcake to celebrate, this is my ideal twentieth birthday look to ring in my twenties and bid adieu to my teens. 

How did you celebrate your twentieth birthday? Any advice for my twenties?

Watercolor Rose

/ Topshop top and skirt / Zara heels and purse / DIY sunglasses /

Lately, it's a pretty rare occasion where I come across a garment that stops me and I automatically need to have it. Even rarer, is that it is in a reasonably affordable price range. I have been working on trying to add in a few special pieces into my wardrobe, regardless of their wearability, and this skirt from Topshop had all of the qualities I was looking for. Feminine, dainty, and unique in design, it is one of the pieces that has the power of making you feel a bit prettier just by putting it on. Bonus points, it reminds me of Katie Rodger's Dior illustration on Paper Fashion!

Have you seen any of these special pieces lately? I'd love to see.

'Til Next Time, New York

/ Forever 21 dress / Michael Kors watch / Topshop (old) heels / Necklace from Austin, TX / Yankees cap /

Well, New York, another summer has come and gone and my busy period of balancing up to three internships at one point and keeping up with this blog has ended. I came home on Saturday and have until Thursday until I head back to New York (upstate, though) to start my Junior year at Syracuse. I wanted to say goodbye to summer and bye to the city with a classic NYC accessory, the New York Yankees baseball cap. Baseball caps are not an accessory that I integrate into my wardrobe regularly, but I have always loved how they add the perfect athletic vibe to any outfit--even a mod black and white shift with sky-high heels.

Have you ended your summer dream careers? Where are you headed now, I'd love to hear!

Fall Favorites

/ 1. Topshop / 2. Isabel Marant / 3. Rag & Bone (mens!) / 4. Topshop /

Fall is definitely my favorite season, and nothing makes me happier after a brutal summer than heading to work with a perfect crisp breeze in the air. During colder months, and even at the beginning of fall, I try my best to wear my skirts and dresses with my legs bare for as long as possible. With this challenge, easy jackets are for sure my go-to pieces. When it comes to favorites, jackets in a varsity or army/utility style are what I find myself wearing with absolutely everything. With my favorite varsity jacket in a dark navy and black combination (faux leather sleeves, of course!) and my utility jacket in its classic army green, these are staples that are must haves for that crisp pre-fall air that will certainly carry you much into fall.

How have you been adding on for pre-fall?

Piña

/ Topshop dress / H&M sandals / Zara purse / Forever21 necklace / Michael Kors watch / Anthropologie Sunglasses /

I've never been much of a beach person, I don't like getting wet and I'm not particularly fond of sand. So, it surprised even me when I took a spontaneous late afternoon excursion out to Coney Island for the first time. Since being in the city since May, this was my first actual 'summer activity', and I was overly excited to dress the part. I had purchased this pineapple dress at a Topshop sale last month and felt like what better day to pull it out from a sea of black and to actually bring it to the sea. With it's all-over pineapple print, the small details like triangular midriff cutout, cross-over neckline, and criss-cross open back provide just the right amount of interesting elements to keep it from bridging over to too cutesy.

Have you ever been to Coney Island? Did you sport any festive summer apparel, as well?

Dress Up

When it comes to red dresses, and kind of red pieces in general, I'm always back and forth. I seem to love red on other people, but aside from a red lip, I usually stay away. While I'm not one to shy away from colors, red for some reason is one color that rarely shows up in my wardrobe. Maybe it's the fact that it's such a bold color, or that sometimes is over-powering on my pale skin, but every time I attempt a red garment, I end up leaving without it. This Topshop 'Florence' crepe dress is next on my list to attempt, though. Though completely red, it seems as if this specific red may be a hue that might actually work. In it's fairly simple silhouette, but with the interest of a bit of skin around the midriff, the red is easier to take in, while still making the bold impact that it obviously does. 

What do you think about red? Love it or hate it?

4th of July

Bebe top / Topshop pinafore (on sale!)  / Vintage heels / Michael Kors watch / Francesca's necklace / Brandy Melville Ring / Sunglasses from SoHo street vender / Target purse

You can't help but love the fourth of July. From the theme-dressing, fireworks and all out American birthday festivities, this is the perfect mid-summer holiday. While donning the American flag isn't so much my style, the classic colors of red, white, and blue certainly are. By layering a pretty white top over a cobalt pinafore and my favorite vintage heels borrowed from my mom for a little red, I came up with a look that is not only celebratory of the day, but fun to wear, as well.

Hope you all had an amazing fourth of July!